Bhutan and Morocco Explore Offshore IIT Campuses as India Expands Global Technical Education

India’s prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are making headlines once again, not just for their academic excellence, but for their growing international footprint. The Union government has recently received formal requests from Bhutan and Morocco to explore the establishment of offshore IIT campuses. This marks a significant step in India’s efforts to globalize its technical education system and provide high-quality engineering and technology education to students beyond its borders.

Currently, only two IITs have operational overseas campuses: IIT Madras in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi, UAE. However, with these new proposals, India is signaling a stronger commitment to international academic collaboration and the export of its premier technical education model.

Government Committee to Facilitate Offshore IITs

To manage the process of setting up IIT campuses abroad, the Indian government had earlier constituted a 17-member committee tasked with facilitating offshore expansion. Headed by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Chairperson of the IIT Council Standing Committee, the committee was responsible for evaluating proposals, suggesting frameworks for governance, and ensuring the quality and reputation of IITs remain intact internationally.

The committee submitted its recommendations back in 2022, outlining strategies for partnerships with foreign governments, campus management structures, faculty deployment, and curriculum alignment to maintain IIT standards globally. This step has paved the way for countries like Bhutan and Morocco to formally approach India with their interest in hosting IIT campuses.

IIT Madras Leads the Way: Zanzibar Campus

IIT Madras became the first IIT to establish an offshore campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Announced in 2023, the initiative is part of India’s broader strategy to enhance technical education access in Africa. The campus is hosted at Tanzania’s Zanzibar and began operations from a temporary campus in November 2023.

Preeti Aghalyam, appointed as the director-in-charge, made history as the first woman director of any IIT. The campus aims to attract students from across Africa and other regions, offering them world-class technical education with the IIT brand. Although it started on a temporary site, plans are underway to develop a full-fledged campus with advanced research facilities, laboratories, and student accommodations.

This project not only highlights India’s commitment to education diplomacy but also showcases IIT Madras’ role in exporting Indian engineering expertise abroad.

IIT Delhi Expands into the UAE

Following IIT Madras, IIT Delhi signed a formal agreement with the UAE government to set up its own overseas campus in Abu Dhabi. The campus is located in Khalifa City and officially inaugurated on September 2, 2024. This development reflects growing interest from Middle Eastern countries in Indian technical education and underscores the global recognition of the IIT brand.

The IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus offers courses in engineering, technology, and research-based programs. It also aims to foster collaborative projects with local universities and research institutions, enabling knowledge exchange and the development of cutting-edge technologies.

The Abu Dhabi campus aligns with India’s broader education export strategy, positioning IITs as global leaders in engineering education while creating opportunities for international students to benefit from India’s academic rigor.

Potential Expansion: Bhutan and Morocco

With the success of IITs in Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi, countries such as Bhutan and Morocco are now exploring similar partnerships. Sources within the government indicate that formal discussions are ongoing regarding the modalities, funding, and governance structures for these proposed campuses.

Bhutan, known for prioritizing education and sustainable development, is interested in hosting an IIT campus to provide its students with high-quality technical education locally, reducing the need to send students abroad. This move could also strengthen regional cooperation in South Asia.

Similarly, Morocco’s interest reflects its ambition to boost technical education and research capabilities within North Africa. Establishing an IIT campus in Morocco would not only offer advanced education opportunities to local students but could also serve as a hub for students from neighboring countries.

The Union government’s committee will likely oversee the planning, ensuring that both campuses uphold IIT standards while adapting to the unique needs of each host country.

IITs’ Role in India’s Global Education Strategy

The international expansion of IITs is part of India’s larger strategy to become a global hub for technical education. By setting up offshore campuses, India can:

1. Enhance Education Diplomacy: Strengthening ties with countries like Tanzania, UAE, Bhutan, and Morocco through education initiatives.
2. Promote Indian Expertise: Sharing India’s high-quality engineering and research capabilities with the global community.
3. Attract International Talent: Drawing students from Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia to benefit from IIT’s world-class curriculum.
4. Foster Research Collaboration: Encouraging joint research projects and innovations between Indian and international scholars.

This approach also aligns with India’s broader “soft power” strategy, where education becomes a means to foster international goodwill and cooperation.

Learning from IIM Ahmedabad’s Global Expansion

The recent launch of IIM Ahmedabad’s first international campus at Dubai International Academic City provides a useful precedent for IITs. The IIM’s campus demonstrates the feasibility of replicating India’s premier education model abroad while attracting both local and international students. IITs can leverage similar strategies to develop curricula, student support systems, and research collaborations tailored to international campuses.

Challenges and Opportunities

While offshore IIT campuses offer immense opportunities, there are challenges to consider:

• Maintaining Academic Standards: Ensuring that offshore campuses match the rigor and quality of home campuses.
• Cultural and Administrative Adaptation: Adapting to local regulations, student expectations, and administrative practices.
• Sustainable Funding Models: Securing investments for infrastructure, faculty recruitment, and research facilities.

Despite these challenges, the potential benefits are significant. Offshore campuses can help IITs expand their global influence, create opportunities for cross-border research, and contribute to India’s role as a leader in technical education worldwide.

Conclusion: A New Era for IITs

The requests from Bhutan and Morocco signal the growing global appeal of IITs and India’s commitment to spreading high-quality technical education internationally. Following the pioneering efforts of IIT Madras in Zanzibar and IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi, these potential new campuses could mark the beginning of a more extensive global network of Indian Institutes of Technology.

By combining rigorous academic standards with international collaboration, IITs are poised to become not just national treasures but global education hubs, shaping the future of engineering, technology, and research across continents. As these plans unfold, students worldwide may soon have the opportunity to experience IIT’s renowned education without leaving their home regions, heralding a truly global era for Indian technical education.