India Eyes Malaysia for Next Offshore IIT Campus After UAE, Zanzibar Ventures

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reportedly expressed interest in hosting an IIT campus to enhance Malaysia’s standing as a regional hub for quality education and innovation.

India is exploring the possibility of establishing an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Malaysia, following successful international expansions in the UAE and Zanzibar. The development comes as part of the Indian government’s strategy to globalise its premier technical institutions under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which envisions the internationalisation of higher education.

Discussions regarding the Malaysia campus were held during recent high-level meetings between Indian and Malaysian officials. The proposed institution is expected to cater to students across Southeast Asia and the Indian diaspora, further strengthening educational and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reportedly expressed interest in hosting an IIT campus to enhance Malaysia’s standing as a regional hub for quality education and innovation.

This initiative would mark India’s third offshore IIT campus. In 2024, IIT Delhi launched its international campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering and technology. The degrees are conferred directly by IIT Delhi and follow the same academic standards and branding as the main campus in India.

Earlier, in October 2023, IIT Madras established a campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania—India’s first offshore IIT to become operational. The Zanzibar campus offers BS and MTech programmes in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, with a student body comprising both Indian and East African students. The initiative has been hailed for promoting South-South academic cooperation and advancing India's soft power in the region.

While it is not yet confirmed which IIT will lead the Malaysia project, IIT Madras is seen as a likely candidate, given its experience with the Zanzibar campus. Key elements under discussion include curriculum localisation, degree recognition under Malaysian frameworks, joint research opportunities, and faculty-student mobility.

The Malaysia proposal reinforces India’s broader vision to position its higher education institutions as global leaders. By exporting high-quality STEM education, the country is not only opening up new academic opportunities for international students but also enhancing strategic partnerships and promoting its knowledge economy on the world stage.