IIT Explores Possibility of Third Overseas Campus in Sri Lanka

New Delhi: As per the latest updates, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is considering establishing a new offshore campus of IIT in Sri Lanka. This will be the third IIT campus abroad, after IIT Madras’s international campus in Zanzibar and IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi.

Earlier, IIT discussed the proposal to set up an offshore IIT campus in Sri Lanka in November 2023 in the 2024 Budget. The budget was announced by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. If the plan is finalised, then the offshore campus in Sri Lanka will be IIT Madras' second international campus.

Read: IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Begins First Batch of M.Tech in Energy Transition and Sustainability with 19 Students

IIT Madras to Visit Sri Lanka For 'Feasibility Study'

Informing about the possibility of a new campus in Sri Lanka, the official sources shared, "A high-level delegation had recently visited the Chennai campus to discuss the future roadmap. The talks are on and the campus is likely to come up in Kandy”.

"The delegation also visited the Research Park at the campus and interacted with officials about possible areas of engagement," the source added.

A spokesperson of IIT Madras said, "Talks with Sri Lankan authorities are in preliminary stages for IIT Madras to set up a campus in that country. A delegation from Sri Lanka visited our campus and soon a delegation from IIT Madras will visit Sri Lanka for a feasibility study”.

IITs Receive Interest for Offshore Campuses from UK and Beyond

The IIT Madras offshore campus in Tanzania's Zanzibar was established in 2023 with Preeti Aghalyam appointed the director-in-charge. With this, she became the first woman IIT Director. Following this, IIT Delhi established its campus in Abu Dhabi with a formal agreement with UAE government.

Apart from Sri Lanka, the UK is interested in welcoming an IIT to set up an offshore campus there. Some UK universities are currently in discussions with IITs to examine the possibility. Additionally, IITs have received proposals from Middle Eastern and South Asian countries for offshore campuses.

To make the process easy, the Central Government of India has formed a 17-member committee to review the process of establishing IIT campuses in overseas regions where students from other countries can pursue technical education.

Latest Updates:

• UK Universities in Talks with IITs to Establish Offshore Campuses; Check Details Here
• IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi is Offering 25 Seats for its Inaugural Course; Check Details Here

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