Later this year, the renowned Indian Institute of Technology Madras will establish a branch campus on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, showcasing India’s embrace of transnational education.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras, a prestigious educational institution, will establish a campus on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania later this year, marking India’s foray into transnational education. The campus is set to commence operations in October and will initially admit 70 students, including 50 undergraduates and 20 master’s degree students. Media reports from Tanzania suggest that the branch, which will be the first overseas and African campus of IIT Madras, will initially offer programs in data science and artificial intelligence, with plans to introduce additional programs in the future. However, specific details regarding tuition fees for these courses have not been disclosed publicly.
Following the opening of the Zanzibar branch, IIT Madras has plans to establish additional campuses in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The decision to choose Zanzibar as the location for the first African campus may be influenced by its historical significance as a trade hub and its current efforts to position itself as an international business center, according to Tanzanian columnist and technology consultant Charles Makakala. Makakala believes that Zanzibar’s serene environment as a relatively small town will allow students to focus on their studies while also providing them access to the rich Swahili culture, enhancing their overall experience.
Earlier this year, a team of five professors from IIT Madras visited Tanzania and held discussions with Tanzanian officials to finalize plans for the campus. This move aligns with India’s broader strategy of targeting Africa as a potential location for establishing branches of its universities, aiming to attract more international students. It also follows the recent establishment of India’s first foreign campus by the National Forensic Sciences University in Uganda, driven by the high demand for forensic science programs from African students.
