IIT Madras University-Zanzibar campus set for official opening
ZANZIBAR: THE management of India Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is in the final stages to officially open a campus in Zanzibar.
Authorities have said that the selection process for students who have met entry requirements has been finilised.
Prof Preeti Aghalayam, an alumna of IIT Madras, who has been appointed as the Director-in-Charge of the upcoming Zanzibar campus of IIT Madras said hundreds of students from across the world applied, but shortlisting process followed.
“We are committed to ensuring that the Zanzibar campus is a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of gender,” said Ms Aghalayam, a professor in chemical engineering and a strong advocate for gender equality in STEM (Science, Technology, English and Mathematics) education.
She said the campus, scheduled to commence its first academic session in October this year, will offer a four-your bachelor of science degree in data science and artificial intelligence, as well as a two-year master of technology degree in the same discipline.
Recently, an MoU was signed between India and Zanzibar/Tanzania to establish the IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar, and that to begin with, the campus will have an intake of 70 students.
“IIT Madras is set to create history by establishing an international campus in Zanzibar-Tanzania. The IIT Madras, the top-ranked Educational Institute in the country, has become the first IIT in the country to launch an international campus,” she said.
Deputy Principal Secretary- Zanzibar Ministry of Education and Vocational Training Dr Ms Mwanakhamis Ameir said “Selected students will start studies on October 24th, this year with undergraduate and masters, in data science and artificial intelligence.”
She said 20 students have been selected for masters and 50 for undergraduate, and that the fee is 16,000 US dollars for undergraduate and 8000 US dollars for masters, and that the new campus is at Bweleo village, Unguja West B district.
The deputy PS said that the academic staff are from India, while processes are underway to find the local staff.
She said that the programme is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the fast-paced and ever-evolving field of data science and artificial intelligence (DSAI).
