In a significant stride towards fostering international collaboration in technical education, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are poised to establish offshore campuses in Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United Kingdom (UK). The visionary move was first unveiled in the 2024 Budget by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also serves as the finance minister. The announcement outlined the proposal for an offshore IIT campus in Sri Lanka, with discussions centered on Kandy as the potential location.
Sources reveal that a high-level delegation, representing Sri Lanka, recently visited the IIT Madras campus in Chennai to deliberate on the future roadmap of this ambitious initiative. During the visit, the delegation explored the IIT Madras Research Park and engaged in discussions with officials to identify potential areas of collaboration. Talks between the two nations are currently in the preliminary stages, with IIT Madras planning a delegation visit to Sri Lanka for a comprehensive feasibility study.
If the proposed offshore campus in Sri Lanka materializes, it would mark IIT Madras’ second international venture, following the establishment of an offshore campus in Tanzania’s Zanzibar last year. Notably, the Zanzibar campus made history by appointing Preeti Aghalyam as the director-in-charge, making her the first woman IIT Director. Building on this momentum, IIT Delhi has also joined the global expansion trend by formalizing an agreement with the UAE government to set up a campus in Abu Dhabi.
The IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus aims to offer an initial Master’s course focusing on energy transition and sustainability. This thematic choice reflects a shared vision between India and the UAE, emphasizing the leverage of knowledge for mutual prosperity and global well-being. The collaboration is set to commence from the 2017-18 academic sessions, opening doors for meritorious Sri Lankan students to pursue opportunities at IITs in India.
The United Kingdom has also expressed a keen interest in hosting an Indian Institute of Technology on its shores, with ongoing discussions between several UK universities and IITs to explore the feasibility of an offshore campus. Requests from Middle Eastern and South Asian countries for IIT campuses have been pouring in, indicating a growing global demand for India’s premier technical education institutions.
To streamline and facilitate the process of establishing IIT campuses abroad, the central government has taken a proactive step by forming a 17-member committee. This committee is entrusted with overseeing and navigating the intricacies of opening IIT campuses in foreign locations, thereby providing students from different nations with access to high-quality technical education.
The international expansion of IITs is seen as a strategic move to enhance India’s global influence in the field of technical education and research. By fostering collaborations with countries like Sri Lanka, the UAE, and the UK, the IITs are not only expanding their reach but also contributing to the global exchange of knowledge and expertise. This initiative is aligned with the overarching goal of creating a conducive environment for the cross-pollination of ideas, innovation, and academic excellence on a global scale.
In conclusion, the proposed offshore IIT campuses in Sri Lanka, the UAE, and the UK herald a new era of international collaboration in technical education. As IITs embark on this global expansion journey, the ripple effects are poised to benefit students, researchers, and the global community at large, fostering a spirit of collaboration and mutual growth.
