IIT Madras-Zanzibar Campus was inaugurated by H.E Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar. Prof V Kamakoti, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras ( IIT Madras) was also present virtually for the inauguration. Preeti Aghalayam, an alumna of IIT Madras will be appointed as the director in charge of the Zanzibar campus.
Prof V Kamakoti expressed his thoughts on the historic moment and attributed the successful inauguration of India’s first abroad campus of IIT to the governments of both nations. The abroad campus of IIT Madras will offer a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and also a 2-year master’s programme in the same specifications.
Students from Tanzania and other African countries will have access to top-notch engineering and technology education at the IIT Madras-Zanzibar campus, advancing technical innovation, nation-building, economic growth, and research and innovation in Africa.
“The basic motivation for the opening of the IIT Madras campus abroad is the rapid internationalisation. Having a campus in a country abroad will bring in a much more diverse culture which will be a real turning point in the IIT system. We are happy that we chose Africa. We need to go to a country where there is a need for an IIT and the country should support us. Zanzibar government did all that was promised and has been very supportive,” said Prof V Kamakoti.
“More than 200 acres of prime land has been sanctioned for the permanent campus by the Zanzibar government and the temporary campus in which the classes are being held is equipped with all facilities. All the funding for the campus is being undertaken by the Zanzibar government including the salaries of the faculty”, he added.
Classes at the Zanzibar campus started last week, according to IIT Madras. For the two courses—a BS in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science and an MTech in the same field—50 students have been chosen.
The selection process comprised an eligibility test and a personal interview. In the next five years, IIT Madras intends to launch five new courses at the Zanzibar site, and committed faculty members are being recruited for the facility.
