The launch of its inaugural undergraduate courses at the Abu Dhabi branch marks a significant milestone for the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, expected to pave the way for its expanded presence in Gulf Cooperation Council countries. This public engineering institute, located in India's capital, is part of a network of 23 IITs nationwide, providing a range of programs including undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies.
Managed by the Indian Ministry of Education, it is recognized as a premier institution for education, research, and scientific advancement in India. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, it holds a global ranking of 45th in engineering and technology. The UAE branch of the institute is financially supported by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education, pursuant to a pact signed with the Indian government in July 2023.
Hosted by Zayed University, IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi launched its teaching program in January with a master’s course in energy transition and sustainability. This paved the way for full-fledged operations to be launched in the academic year 2024-25. “The undergraduate program is a flagship program of the IITs and hence its launch is significant”, Prof. Shantanu Roy, executive director of the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi, told Arab News this week.
“We would like to reach out to international students in the GCC countries. We will also be rolling out our research programs shortly and would like to engage with partners in Abu Dhabi, UAE and the region. IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi will serve as a meeting point between IIT Delhi and its long 60-plus years legacy in teaching and research, and partners and collaborators in the UAE and neighboring countries”.
The two upcoming undergraduate programs will have a batch of 30 students each. Most of the students will enter based on the institute’s new examination, which the director said was customized for the UAE. “A significant number of Emirati students have registered ... We see many students in our outreach programs”, Roy said. “Eleven out of 18 students in our inaugural master’s program in energy transition and sustainability are UAE nationals. They are doing very well, and we are proud of them”.
The offshore campus is part of the UAE-India comprehensive economic partnership agreement that became effective in May 2022. The UAE branch is the first campus established abroad by IIT. “The opening of the IIT campus in Abu Dhabi is indeed a significant milestone”, Sunjay Sudhir, Indian ambassador to the UAE, said. “Now, in September, the first bachelor of technology courses in computer science and energy will commence”.
He mentioned that IIT operations will not just enhance the institute’s global brand, but also bolster Abu Dhabi’s position as a center for high-tech and innovation. “The IIT-Delhi campus will be an important part of the innovation ecosystem of this country”, Sudhir said. “We expect a strong linkage between the IIT-Delhi campus and other research teaching establishments and also industries”.
