Signaling a significant advancement, India and Tanzania have recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate the operations of IIT Madras’ global campus in Tanzania this year.

Zanzibar, an archipelago situated off the East African coast in Tanzania will be the location for the first IIT campus established outside India.

This landmark agreement paves the way for the establishment of the first-ever overseas branch of IIT.

The agreement was inked on Wednesday in the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi. Mr. Jaishakar is on a visit to Tanzania.

The enduring friendship between India and Tanzania is evident and reflective of their longstanding bond:

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed that this campus symbolizes the enduring friendship between India and Tanzania, serving as a testament to India’s commitment to fostering connections between people in Africa and the wider Global South.

This unique partnership aims to combine the top-ranked educational expertise of IITM with a prominent location in Africa to address the pressing educational needs of the region. The academic programs, curriculum, student selection processes, and teaching methods will be developed by IIT Madras, while the financial support for infrastructure and ongoing operations will be provided by the government of Zanzibar-Tanzania.

Students enrolled in this campus will receive IIT Madras degrees. These state-of-the-art interdisciplinary programs are expected to attract a diverse group of students, including individuals from Africa, other countries, and even Indian students who are eligible to apply.

India’s Foreign Policy and NEP 2020

 In recent years, collaboration in education, which includes the establishment of Indian university campuses abroad and student mobility, has become a significant aspect of India’s foreign policy.

This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which suggests the promotion of setting up campuses in other countries by high-performing Indian universities.

The National Education Policy (NEP) is creating opportunities to prioritize knowledge as an integral element of bilateral relations as well as contributing to global progress.

The IIT campus will initiate the provision of programs in October 2023.