IIT Madras Zanzibar, First-ever International Campus of an IIT, Inaugurated

President of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi inaugurated the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus today, November 6. It is the first-ever international campus of an IIT. A permanent campus will be built soon jointly by the government of Zanzibar and the government of India. At present, a campus is located in Bweleo district, which is approximately 15 km south of Zanzibar Town.

As per the official press release, the IIT will offer BS and MTech programmes in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. More academic programmes will be offered in the coming year. In the first batch at IITM Zanzibar, students from Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania, Nepal, and India have been admitted with 40 per cent of the students being women.

Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, witnessed the inauguration through a live stream at the IIT Madras Chennai Campus. “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,” he said.

The campus has started its first semester with students from different countries including Zanzibar, India, Nepal, and Tanzania Mainland. A total of 45 students have been admitted for a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science and AI and a two-year Master of Technology degree in Data Science and AI.

The new campus will have the ability to accommodate students in dorms and provide various facilities. Arrangements for offices, classrooms, and auditoriums have been made. Dining facilities and a dispensary are available on campus, and sports facilities are being planned.

Further, Prof Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean (Global Engagement), IIT Madras, said, “The start of this campus in Zanzibar is a landmark moment for IIT Madras. We are extremely grateful for the incredible support extended by the Government and people of Zanzibar. We will strive to make this one of the pre-eminent institutions in the African region.”

The programmes at IITM Zanzibar are open to students of all nationalities, including Indians. The IIT will also offer study abroad/semester exchange programmes with IIT Madras’ partner institutions in the UK and Australia, among other countries, internships with various relevant companies, and a chance to meet some of the course requirements at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai. Classes for the first academic year (2023-24) commenced in October this year.