In a significant development, India has signed an agreement with Tanzania to establish the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus outside the country. The landmark agreement was reached during the visit of India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, to Tanzania, highlighting the growing cooperation in education between the two nations. Education cooperation, including the establishment of Indian university campuses abroad and student mobility, has emerged as a crucial component of India’s foreign policy in recent years. This strategic move aligns with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages high-performing Indian universities to establish campuses in other countries.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up the IIT-Madras campus in Zanzibar was signed between India’s Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training of Zanzibar-Tanzania. The signing ceremony, held in the presence of Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi and Minister Jaishankar, marked a significant step towards strengthening educational ties between the two nations. The establishment of an IIT campus in Tanzania holds great promise for both countries. IITs are renowned for their excellence in engineering and technology education, and their expansion abroad will provide valuable opportunities for Tanzanian students to access world-class education in their own country.
This initiative will contribute to the development of a skilled workforce in Tanzania, which is essential for the country’s economic growth and progress. Moreover, the presence of an IIT campus in Tanzania will foster cultural exchange and promote people-to-people connections between India and Tanzania. It will create a platform for collaboration between Indian and Tanzanian students and researchers, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and innovation. The establishment of the IIT-Madras campus in Zanzibar is expected to follow the same rigorous academic standards and curriculum as its parent institution in India.
The campus will offer specialized undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering and technology, attracting students from Tanzania and the surrounding regions. This initiative marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to internationalize its higher education sector and strengthen its global academic footprint. It sets a precedent for Indian universities to expand their presence beyond national borders and contribute to the development of education and research worldwide.
The agreement between India and Tanzania for the establishment of the first IIT campus abroad showcases the shared commitment of the two nations to enhance educational cooperation and opens new avenues for collaboration in the field of higher education. It paves the way for future partnerships and lays a solid foundation for a stronger India-Tanzania relationship.