A role model for women in STEM fields, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, director-in-Charge and dean, School of Engineering and Science, IIT Madras Zanzibar, Tanzania, believes internationalisation of education through off-shore centres of top institutions would add to India’s growing global stature. Excerpts of interview:
Q How does the IITM Zanzibar campus contribute to the spread of India’ soft power in Africa or global south?
IITM Zanzibar is India’s first off-shore IIT. As a unique partnership between the governments of India & Zanzibar, and IIT Madras, the international campus of IITM is poised to change the landscape of education in the region. IIT Madras has had good traction with students from Africa, studying in various master’s & Phd programmes in Chennai. Bringing an interdisciplinary, modern IITM undergraduate degree to Africa, alongside a state-of-the-art master’s degree was a strategic step forward in providing access to IITM education to larger groups of people.
Apart from full-time degrees, IITM Zanzibar is also participating in research and technology related activities, and working with regional ministries and corporates in various areas of mutual interest. Our goals are to serve the local and global communities better and to use our academic prowess to provide efficient technological innovations to the world.
Q What are the benefits from internationalisation of Indian technical education? What does India gain from this?
As an eminent research institution, at IIT Madras, we have frequently seen the benefits of including diversity of thoughts and perspectives into the equations. The solutions that emerge are more innovative, more scalable, and cater better to the needs of a wider population. Opening our doors to international students, collaborators, and partners has given a great fillip to the quality of our education and research activities. The IITs have long been acclaimed for the academic rigour of their programmes and the impact their alumni have on the world.
As the Indian economy grows, it is imperative that our educational institutions grow in stature as well. Internationalisation of the education sector, particularly the top-ranked academic institutions, with a clear eye on maintaining the qualities we are well known for – academic rigour, innovativeness, aspirations of our youth – will build a lot of awareness across the world. It will build awareness about the uniqueness of the requirements of our population and the depth and quality of the solutions that are emerging from us.
Q How has the Zanzibar experiment gone so far and what are the next possible stages of expansion?
The IITM Zanzibar campus just completed its first semester of classes. The growth of the first cohort of students in this short time has been heartening to observe. The admission process for the second cohort of students, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, is ongoing at this time. Awareness of the IITM Zanzibar offerings and the uniqueness of its value proposition, have increased a lot, across the world.
As an international campus, IITM Zanzibar is growing leaps and bounds in stature, and is a frequent stop for delegations from India and Africa. The immediate plans for IITM Zanzibar include the development of curricula for additional degree programmes (to be opened out in the coming years), engagements with corporates and industries for research activities, short term course offerings for various collaborating institutions in the region, and a technology innovation centre to be created in the near future.
Q How does it feel to be the first woman head of an IIT?
It is a fantastic opportunity, and the team is incredible. I am grateful to the powers-that-be for putting together such an amazing institution as IITM Zanzibar, the potential for growth and evolution are immense. Exciting times are ahead for us.