- By Ritesh Kumar
- Tue, 10 Oct 2023 05:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Tuesday that the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Madras, would inaugurate its international campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in early November. This announcement coincides with the four-day visit of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to India. Minister Pradhan made this announcement during a ceremony at Jawaharlal Nehru University, where President Samia Suluhu Hassan received an honorary doctorate.
"I am happy that the first offshore campus of any IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) is being set up in Zanzibar. I am told that IIT-Madras' Zanzibar campus is scheduled to be inaugurated early next month," the minister said as quoted by news agency PTI.
"This institution will mark a significant step in fostering educational collaboration between two nations and continents. It will offer students from Tanzania and other African countries the opportunity to access top-tier engineering and technology education. This will not only contribute to nation-building but also fuel economic growth, technological advancement, and research and innovation across Africa," Minster added.
Conferment of Honorary Doctorate upon H.E. @SuluhuSamia, President, United Republic of Tanzania. https://t.co/LGwHesJxJQ
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 10, 2023
During a joint address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said, "IIT Madras' decision to establish a center in Zanzibar marks a significant milestone in our bilateral relationship. In the defense sector, we have forged a five-year roadmap that will expand our collaboration in military training, maritime cooperation, capacity building, and the defense industry. I am pleased to announce that Tanzania has chosen to join the Global Biofuels Alliance, an initiative launched by India during the G20 Summit."
Back in July, India and Tanzania signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which marked the completion of the last administrative step needed to establish the campus. This institution is set to provide two comprehensive academic programs: a four-year Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and a two-year Master of Technology in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.