MoU Inked to Establish IIT Delhi’s First Overseas Campus in Abu Dhabi

Ministry of Education and Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) to establish the first-ever campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi.

The signing ceremony, attended by Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, marks a significant milestone in the educational collaboration between the two nations.

The MoU signifies the commitment of both the UAE and India to prioritize educational excellence, innovation, knowledge exchange, and investments in human capital as the pillars of future prosperity and long-term economic growth. It complements the ongoing UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and reflects the shared vision of fostering sustainable development through enhanced educational opportunities.

Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his happiness via social media, calling the establishment of the IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi a new chapter in the internationalization of India’s education. He emphasized that the IIT Delhi campus in the UAE would not only symbolize India-UAE friendship but also serve as a platform for mutual prosperity and global good through the power of knowledge.

Sara Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education, Chairman of the Federal Agency of Early Education, and Chairman of ADEK, described the MoU as a crucial step towards realizing Abu Dhabi’s vision of creating a world-class education system aligned with national development goals. She emphasized that the partnership with IIT Delhi would promote innovation, high-level research, and contribute to a globally competitive education ecosystem.

The collaboration between IIT Delhi and Abu Dhabi will enrich the academic, research, and innovation landscape in the UAE. By collaborating with prominent institutions such as Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi, Technology Innovation Institute, and Hub71, the new campus aims to offer complementary programs and cutting-edge research opportunities while fostering the local startup ecosystem.

The IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi campus is scheduled to launch its academic programs in 2024, encompassing bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs, along with research centers focusing on sustainable energy and climate studies, computing, and data sciences. The curriculum will span various disciplines, including Energy and Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science and Engineering, Mathematics and Computing, and other engineering, sciences, and humanities fields.

Graduates from IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi will join the distinguished alumni network of 23 campuses across India. IIT Delhi itself is globally recognized, being ranked among the top 50 institutions for engineering and technology and within the top 30 for global employability in the 2022 QS World University Rankings. The institute has played a crucial role in India’s research and development ecosystem, contributing to various sectors like defence, healthcare, rural development, transportation, IT, and software.

The establishment of IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi marks a landmark moment for educational cooperation between the UAE and India, promising to create a conducive environment for knowledge exchange, innovation, and the holistic development of human capital to drive both nations towards a prosperous and sustainable future.