By adbnu564 IIT Delhi’s Abu Dhabi campus officially opened today, marking a significant milestone in educational collaboration between India and the UAE. The inauguration ceremony was graced by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who welcomed the first batch of students to the new campus.
This inaugural batch comprises 52 students who were selected through the JEE Advanced exam and the new Combined Admission Entrance Test (CAET) for international candidates. The students will pursue undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Engineering and Energy Engineering, reflecting the campus’s focus on advanced technical education.
The establishment of the IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi is a major outcome of the Vision Document launched in February 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This Vision Document aims to expand the India-UAE relationship into new and collaborative areas.
Earlier this year, in January 2024, the campus had launched its first Master of Technology (MTech) program in Energy Transition and Sustainability. The inaugural MTech students had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Abu Dhabi in February.
During today’s inauguration, IIT Delhi signed several significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading Abu Dhabi institutions, including Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Khalifa University, Zayed University, and Sorbonne University-Abu Dhabi. These partnerships are expected to boost Abu Dhabi’s academic and research sectors.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the importance of the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus in strengthening the bond between India and the UAE. He emphasized that the campus embodies the shared vision of leveraging knowledge, science, and technology to foster mutual prosperity.
Pradhan also noted that the new campus aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision for the internationalization of India’s education system, aiming to broaden the global impact of Indian academic institutions.
Overall, the opening of IIT Delhi’s Abu Dhabi campus represents a significant step in enhancing educational ties between India and the UAE, setting the stage for future collaborations and advancements in engineering and technology.