Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, officially inaugurated the IIT Madras Zanzibar during an event on Monday. The ceremony was attended by Tanzanian officials, Indian dignitaries, as well as faculty and students from the campus.
This groundbreaking initiative is part of the Indian government’s mission to extend the high-quality education system of India to global platforms. Notably, IIT Madras Zanzibar stands as the first-ever international campus established by an IIT.
Situated in the Bweleo district, roughly 15 km south of Zanzibar Town, the current campus is outfitted with international-grade facilities tailored to meet students’ contemporary requirements. A permanent campus is slated for construction soon through a collaborative effort between the Governments of Zanzibar and India.
Initially, the Institute will provide BS and MTech programs in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, with plans to introduce additional academic programs in the following year. The inaugural batch at IITM Zanzibar comprises students from Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania, Nepal, and India, with 40 percent of the students being women.
IITM Zanzibar is open for students of all nationalities, including Indians, to participate in its programs. Alongside a comprehensive curriculum covering various aspects of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, students can explore diverse opportunities during their academic journey.
These include study abroad or semester exchange programs with IIT Madras’ partner institutions in the U.K., Australia, and other countries, internships with relevant companies, and the opportunity to fulfill certain course requirements at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai, India. The first academic year (2023-24) commenced in October 2023.
In its first semester, the campus has commenced with a diverse student body hailing from various countries such as Zanzibar, India, Nepal, and mainland Tanzania. A total of 45 students have been admitted for the four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science and AI, as well as the two-year Master of Technology degree in Data Science and AI.
The campus is equipped with dormitories to accommodate students and offers various amenities. Well-planned arrangements have been made for offices, classrooms, and auditoriums. Dining facilities and a dispensary are readily accessible, with plans underway for sports facilities on the premises.
Speaking to the Media at the IIT Madras Chennai Campus, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, ‘Today, as we inaugurate the IIT Madras Zanzibar Campus, we embark on a journey of knowledge and innovation that transcends borders. Together, we will nurture excellence, foster collaboration and inspire generations to dream beyond horizons.’
Highlighting the unique aspects of the campus while addressing the event at Zanzibar Campus, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Dean of School of Engineering and Science and Director-in-charge, Zanzibar campus, IIT Madras, said, ‘It has been an honour to bring IITM’s academic excellence to this beautiful island of Zanzibar. We have started on such a wonderful and positive note with a lovely campus and amazing students. We are grateful to President Mwinyi for the faith reposed in us, and look forward to scaling great heights at IITM Zanzibar.’
The student entrance process, overseen by the Office of Global Engagement at IIT Madras, incorporated a screening test devised by faculty experts at IIT Madras, followed by interviews, in accordance with the IITM Senate-approved admission protocol for international programs.
Benefiting from the extensive expertise of IIT Madras faculty in interdisciplinary education, research, and technological innovation, the Zanzibar campus is poised for rapid development and expansion. Backed by robust support from the local government, IITM Zanzibar aims to become a distinctive international campus.
The campus was inaugurated in the presence of Hon. Prof. Adolf F. Mkenda, Minister of Education Science and Technology United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, India High Commissioner of The United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Lela Mohamed Mussa, Minister of Education and Vocational Training-Zanzibar, Prof. M S Ananth and Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, former Directors of IIT Madras, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Dean of School of Engineering and Science, and Director-in-charge, Zanzibar campus, IIT Madras, faculty, students, staff and others.
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, witnessed the inauguration through a live stream at the IIT Madras Chennai Campus.
