IIT Madras has made history with the appointment of Preeti Aghalayam as the first woman director-in-charge of its Zanzibar campus, the first offshore campus of an Indian Institute of Technology. The Zanzibar campus is set to commence its inaugural academic session in October, with a strong focus on achieving gender balance and sustainable development goals.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by India and Tanzania formalised the creation of the Zanzibar campus. With the passing of this important milestone, IIT Madras has expanded internationally, giving students access to a global learning environment.
As director-in-charge, Preeti Aghalayam, a renowned IIT Madras graduate, offers a plethora of knowledge and experience to the position. She graduated from IIT Madras with a BTech in Chemical Engineering in 1995, and then she continued on to the University of Massachusetts Amherst to obtain her Ph.D. in 2000. Aghalayam has an impressive academic background, including postdoctoral research at MIT, Cambridge, and faculty positions at IIT Bombay. Since 2010, she has been a Professor in the Chemical Engineering department at IIT Madras.
During a press conference, V Kamakoti, the director of IIT Madras, expressed his pride in Aghalayam's appointment as the first woman director in the history of IITs. He highlighted the institution's commitment to gender balance and sustainable development goals, aligning with global initiatives.
Aghalayam herself shared her excitement and honor in taking on this significant responsibility. As an alumna of IIT Madras, she expressed her pride in contributing to the institute and the nation through this groundbreaking endeavor. She also emphasized the value of making thoughtful decisions, particularly with regard to how women are represented in Zanzibar.
The Zanzibar campus aims to provide students from all backgrounds with a multicultural and accepting educational atmosphere that will encourage their personal progress. With the commencement of the first academic session approaching, applications for admission are now open. Interested students can seize the opportunity to be part of this pioneering initiative.
Preeti Aghalayam's selection as the first female director-in-charge of IIT Madras' Zanzibar campus demonstrates the organization's dedication to advancing women in academia and research. It is an important step in the direction of gender equality and the advancement of female leadership in technical education.
