Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) previous week by UAE and Indian officials, the establishment of an overseas branch of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Abu Dhabi is now officially underway.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Delhi was witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sunjay Sudhir, the Indian ambassador to the UAE, stated earlier this year that the authorities had finalised plans for the renowned IIT to establish a campus in Abu Dhabi in 2024. According to Sara Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education, Chairman of the Federal Agency of Early Education, and Chairman of Adek, the MoU is a significant milestone in the UAE Capital's pledge to advance a world-class educational system.

"In line with our national strategy, this MoU reflects our commitment to providing world-class educational experiences," Musallam said during the agreement's execution. We anticipate that the IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi collaboration will help us transition to creating an environment that fosters innovation and accelerates high-level research."

The IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi campus will start providing a variety of bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programs in January 2024. It will also run research centers for computer and data sciences, climate studies, and sustainable energy.

It will encompass a wide range of programs in engineering, science, and the humanities, featuring courses on energy and sustainability, AI, engineering and computer science, mathematics, and computers. 

The agreement has been hailed as a significant development that will deepen the long-standing relationship between the UAE and India and further enrich the higher education landscape in the United Arab Emirates by Dharmendra Pradhan, Cabinet Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Government of India. Graduates from IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi are expected to join an esteemed alumni association that includes alumni from 23 institutions across India.

IIT-Delhi has a stellar reputation and was recently listed among the top 50 engineering and technology schools in the world. In the 2022 QS World University Rankings, it also received a top 30 ranking for employability globally. IIT-Delhi has made significant contributions to India's R&D ecosystem in a variety of fields, including software, military, healthcare, and rural development.