This historic initiative is being undertaken as part of the Government of India’s endeavour to take top quality education system of India to international arenas. IIT Madras Zanzibar is the first ever international campus of an IIT.The existing campus in Bweleo district, located approximately 15 km south of Zanzibar Town, is equipped with international amenities designed to meet the current needs of students. A permanent campus will be built soon jointly by the Government of Zanzibar and the Government of India.While initially, the Institute will offer BS and MTech programs, in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, more academic programs will be offered in the coming year. In the first batch at IITM Zanzibar, students from Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania, Nepal and India have been admitted with 40 per cent of the students being women.Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, witnessed the inauguration through a live stream at the IIT Madras Chennai Campus.The programs at IITM Zanzibar are open to students of all nationalities, including Indians.