UAE
Abu Dhabi is gearing up to welcome an off-shore campus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between UAE and Indian authorities. The historic event took place on Saturday in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The MoU, exchanged between the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), the Indian Ministry of Education, and IIT-Delhi, marks a significant milestone in the UAE Capital’s pursuit of a world-class education system. Sara Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education, Chairman of the Federal Agency of Early Education, and Chairman of Adek, emphasized the importance of this partnership in the context of the national strategy to provide top-notch educational experiences.
Musallam expressed her confidence that the collaboration between IIT-Delhi and Abu Dhabi would foster an environment conducive to innovation and high-level research. The IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi campus is slated to commence its academic programs in January 2024, offering a range of bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs. Additionally, it will house research centers focusing on sustainable energy, climate studies, computing, and data sciences.
The academic offerings at IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi will span various disciplines, including energy and sustainability, artificial intelligence, computer science and engineering, mathematics and computing, as well as other branches of engineering, sciences, and humanities. By partnering with key institutions such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi, Technology Innovation Institute, and Hub71, the campus aims to collaborate on complementary programs, cutting-edge research, and the advancement of the local startup ecosystem.
Dharmendra Pradhan, the Cabinet Minister for Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship in the Government of India, lauded the agreement as a significant development that would enhance the longstanding bilateral ties between the UAE and India, while enriching the Emirates’ higher education landscape. Graduates from IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi will join an esteemed alumni network that spans 23 campuses across India.
Renowned for its excellence, IIT-Delhi recently achieved a position among the top 50 institutions globally for engineering and technology. Furthermore, it secured a top 30 rank for global employability in the 2022 QS World University Rankings. With its contributions to India’s research and development ecosystem in sectors ranging from defense and healthcare to rural development, transportation, IT, and software, IIT-Delhi is poised to make a significant impact in Abu Dhabi.
The establishment of the IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi campus signifies a major stride toward fostering educational collaboration and knowledge exchange between the UAE and India. As both nations continue to prioritize the advancement of their education sectors, this partnership promises to create new opportunities and drive innovation in the field of higher learning.
