Chennai: IIT Madras Zanzibar campus will be a centre of excellence for East Africa, and it will be a place where world-class education, research and entrepreneurship come together to solve challenges and create new opportunities, Zanzibar President and chairperson of Revolutionary Council Hussein Ali Mwinyi said here on Friday.At the 63rd convocation of the institute, Hussein Ali Mwinyi said, “We want our young people to build solutions that emerge from Africa, serve Africa and contribute to the progress of the world. The knowledge created through an institution such as IIT Madras will help us better understand, protect and sustainably harness our immense potential for generations to come.”“Lasting prosperity cannot be imported; it must be built by investing in people. Roads can be built, ports can be expanded and industries can be established. But the true wealth of any nation will always be found in the imagination, character and ability of its people,” he further said.Presenting the annual report, director V Kamakoti said, “IIT-M Zanzibar entered a transformative phase as an emerging hub of global higher education in East Africa. The campus currently hosts 130 students, with 51% from Tanzania and the rest from countries including Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and India.”The inaugural MTech batch achieved 100% industrial placement, with students securing jobs in organisations such as SuperDoll, Zantel and Airtel. “IIT-M Zanzibar campus plans to expand enrolment from 350 students to 500 students by 2027 through faculty recruitment, industry engagement, and the development of East Africa’s first research-integrated startup studio,” he added.A total of 3,518 degrees were awarded to 3,106 students. Ashwin Subramanian received President of India prize for highest CGPA and Bharat Ratna M Visvesvaraya Memorial Prize.
