July 20, 2023: This decision came after an agreement was signed between the educational authorities of both India and Tanzania. Why does IIT want an international campus? What are the benefits of having an international campus? Keep reading to know more!
India plans to set up its first-ever Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus outside its borders, specifically in Tanzania (a country in East Africa). This development aligns with India's National Education Policy 2020 and intends to enhance educational collaboration between the two nations.
The new IIT campus will be set up in Zanzibar under the name IIT Madras at Zanzibar.
IIT Madras at Zanzibar will commence its program offerings starting October, 2023 with a batch of 50 undergraduate students and 20 master’s students, The Citizen reported.
Zanzibar will be first of the three campuses outside of India, with the others located in Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur.
It will primarily focus on designing effective teaching methods. This initiative serves as a significant move towards internationalizing Indian education, as well as expanding India's global recognition and ties with other nations.
Zanzibar- It's a partly self-governing state in Tanzania. Zanzibar, located off the coast of East Africa, merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. This particular state has the authority to make some of its own decisions and implement policies on certain matters within its jurisdiction. This level of self-governance allows the state to have some control over its internal affairs, while still being part of the larger country of Tanzania.
Why do educational institutes set up foreign campuses?
- to expand their global presence, enhance their reputation, and promote international collaboration. Establishing campuses abroad allows institutes to attract a diverse pool of students and faculty, creating a mult-icultural learning environment. It also provides opportunities for academic partnerships and research collaborations with international institutions, promoting knowledge exchange and advancing innovation. Additionally, foreign campuses can contribute to the development of global citizens by offering students exposure to different cultures, perspectives, and educational systems, preparing them for an interconnected world.
This decision came after an agreement was signed between the educational authorities of both India and Tanzania during the visit of India's external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, to Tanzania.
In recent years, education cooperation, such as setting up foreign campuses of Indian universities and promoting student mobility, has become an important aspect of India's foreign policy.
This move aligns with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages prestigious Indian universities to establish campuses in other countries.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the IIT-Madras campus in Zanzibar was signed between India's education ministry and Tanzania's ministry of education. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi and Minister Jaishankar. Zanzibar holds a semi-autonomous status within Tanzania.
Dr. S. Jaishankar is India's External Affairs Minister of India since May 30th, 2019
In picture: Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi and External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar
Picture source: The Print
The memorandum of understanding (MoU)- A memorandum of understanding is an agreement between two or more parties that shows they agree on a common plan of action.
Starting from October, the IIT campus will begin offering programs, according to the Union education ministry. IIT-Madras will decide the admission criteria ,academic programs, curriculum, and degrees that will be granted by the institute. IIT-Madras will be responsible for planning the teaching strategies for the offshore campus, as stated by a senior official from the education ministry.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that this initiative represents a step towards internationalizing Indian education and strengthening ties with Africa. The National Education Policy (NEP) plays a significant role in advancing global collaboration and knowledge-sharing, he added.
Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan is the Cabinet Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Government of India.
Picture source: wikipedia
The offshore campus in Tanzania signifies the lasting friendship between India and Tanzania and demonstrates India's dedication to promoting people-to-people relationships across Africa and the Global South, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
The establishment of the IIT campus will have multiple benefits for India. It will not only enhance India's reputation and diplomatic relationships but also expand the global presence of IIT-Madras. The campus will contribute to the improvement of education and research quality at IIT-Madras by encouraging diversity among students and faculty through international collaborations. This will also facilitate stronger research partnerships with other prestigious academic institutions worldwide.
The IIT campus in Zanzibar aims to become a world-class center for education and research. Its mission goes beyond traditional academic pursuits, as it seeks to develop skills and expertise that align with emerging global needs. The campus will also strengthen the ties between India and Tanzania while promoting research and innovation in the region.