Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, served as the chief guest at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras’s 63rd Convocation on July 17, 2026. The ceremony, held in Chennai, celebrated the graduation of 3,106 students and highlighted the expansion of the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus, a landmark initiative in bilateral educational cooperation.
A Milestone at the 63rd Convocation
Among the degrees conferred were 511 PhDs, reflecting the institute’s research output.
Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, presided over the event as the chief guest. His presence underscored the deepening ties between India and the semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. During the ceremony, President Mwinyi unveiled the layout for the permanent campus of IIT Madras Zanzibar, which is currently being constructed on 200 acres in the Fumba peninsula.
Expanding the Global Footprint
The Zanzibar campus represents a strategic expansion for the institute. Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, reported that the campus currently hosts 130 students from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, and India. The inaugural M.Tech. batch at the Zanzibar location has already achieved a 100 per cent industrial placement rate, and the institute aims to scale enrollment to between 350 and 500 students by 2027.
“The establishment of IIT Madras Zanzibar represents far more than an educational milestone. It reflects a shared belief that knowledge should know no borders and that excellence should never be confined by geography.”
Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council
Diplomatic Engagement in New Delhi
Beyond the convocation ceremony, President Mwinyi’s four-day visit to India included high-level diplomatic meetings. Radhakrishnan in New Delhi to review the spectrum of India-Tanzania relations. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in the blue economy, tourism, trade, and technology.
The visit also included a meeting with India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar. According to tele.net, the two leaders identified artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology as priority sectors for future development partnerships. Minister Jaishankar specifically cited the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus as a shining example
of the successful educational partnership between the two nations.
Technological Progress and Shared Aspirations
During his address to the graduating class, President Mwinyi emphasized the responsibility inherent in modern innovation. He noted that while advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology are reshaping the world, these tools must be directed toward human progress.
“You graduate at a defining moment in history. Artificial Intelligence, robotics, biotechnology and quantum technologies are changing the way humanity lives, learns and works. Yet technology alone has never guaranteed progress. Every great innovation presents humanity with a choice. That choice belongs not to technology itself, but to those who create it.”
Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council
Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Madras, characterized the partnership as a reflection of mutual investment in human capital. The ongoing collaboration is supported by various Indian government initiatives, including the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) training program and scholarships provided by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
Strategic Outlook for IITM Global
The convocation also served as a venue to highlight the launch of the IITM Global Foundation. This initiative is central to the institute’s ambition of becoming the world’s first multinational university.
Sources: Newswire.
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