The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras awarded 3,518 degrees (including 511 PhDs) to 3,106 students during its 63rd convocation ceremony held on campus on Friday. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, attended the event, and the institute also unveiled the layout for the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus.
The graduating cohort included students from various programs: 812 BTech, 302 Dual Degree BTech, 617 MTech, 201 MS, 143 MSc, 123 MA, 84 MBA, 53 Executive MBA, and 32 PG Diploma. The 511 doctoral degrees awarded included 16 joint PhDs conferred in collaboration with foreign universities.
IIT Madras Zanzibar, India’s first offshore IIT campus
The convocation also highlighted the institute’s expanding international footprint through IIT Madras Zanzibar, India’s first offshore IIT campus. According to the Director’s report, the campus currently has 130 students; 51% are from Tanzania, while the rest hail from countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, and India.
The institute announced that the first MTech batch from the Zanzibar campus achieved 100% placement, with students securing positions at organizations such as SuperDoll, Zantel, and Airtel.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of the IIT Madras Board of Governors; Hon. Lela Mohamed Mussa, Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Zanzibar; and H.E. Anisa Kapufi Mbega, High Commissioner of Tanzania to India, alongside faculty members, students, and other dignitaries.
Congratulating the graduating students, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi said, “Every generation inherits the world as it is. Your generation has the extraordinary opportunity and responsibility to shape the world as it ought to be. You are graduating at a pivotal moment in history.
Artificial Intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and quantum technology are transforming the way humans live, learn, and work. Yet, history reminds us that technology alone has never guaranteed progress.”
Outstanding academic and overall achievements were also recognized at the convocation ceremony. Ashwin Subramanian Murugan received the ‘President of India Prize’ for securing the highest CGPA among B.Tech and dual-degree students, as well as the ‘Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Prize’ for the highest CGPA among B.Tech students.
Anirudh Rao was awarded the ‘Institute Merit Prize’ for achieving the highest CGPA in the dual-degree program. Mith R. Jain received the ‘Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Prize’ for the best all-round proficiency in academics and extracurricular activities among B.Tech students, while B. Haricharan and Aravindan Kamachi Sundaram jointly received the ‘Governor’s Prize’ for the best all-round performance in the dual-degree program.
Speaking about the institute’s international expansion, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti said, “Looking ahead, IIT Madras Zanzibar plans to increase its student strength to 350–500 by 2027 through rapid faculty recruitment, strong industry linkages, enhanced research infrastructure, and the development of East Africa’s first research-integrated startup studio.”
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