Have you ever wished to do something different than the traditional careers? Are you looking for an opportunity to test out a field you’ve always wanted to explore but never got a chance to?
A fellowship program might be the answer to your queries. The program allows you to do research and work on an issue related to the society and helps develop leadership skills and cultural competency.
Some of the most sought after fellowships in India are:
1. Vedica Scholars
The Vedica Scholars Programme for Women is a unique alternative to the traditional MBA program. The Program’s mission is to prepare high-potential women to achieve fulfilling careers and create a cadre of successful women professionals for the 21st century. It is an 18-month full-time, residential programme with a re-imagined multi-disciplinary curriculum that has been carefully crafted to the expectations of employers today. The Programme is a combination of classroom learning, hands-on work experience, and mentoring and coaching by some of the most inspiring academics and professionals of our times. A professional certificate in Management Practice and Leadership is awarded on successful completion of the Program.
2. Young India Fellowship
The Young India Fellowship (YIF) is a one-year multidisciplinary postgraduate diploma programme in Liberal Studies offered by Ashoka University. The Fellowship brings together a group of 100 bright young individuals from across the countries who show exceptional intellectual ability and leadership potential, and trains them to become socially committed agents of change. YIF exposes them to a diverse set of subjects and perspectives, delivered by some of the finest teachers and practitioners from India and around the world. The aim is to help Fellows become well-rounded individuals who are able to think critically from multiple perspectives, communicate effectively, and become leaders with a commitment to public service.
Recommended Read – Young India Fellowship (YIF): 5 Placement Stories & Career Prospects Ahead
3. India Fellow Leadership Program
The India Fellow Program seeks to train and empower the next generation of leaders in India. The fellowship is for 18 months and includes training, working at grassroots, and mentoring. The fellows participate in several workshops that help build leadership and problem solving skills. Fellows work with a grassroots organization, brainstorming ideas and helping the organization grow. The fellowship program has 4 key benefits while working with the grassroots organization: training, mentoring, reflections, and hands-on work experience.
4. Naropa Fellowship
Naropa Fellowship is a one-year fully residential post-graduate academic programme, founded by His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche and Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha, the founding dean of the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. This fellowship wants to develop a sustainable socio-economic environment in Ladakh and the Himalayas by training entrepreneurs who can be the flag bearers of this change. It wants to preserve the cultural heritage of the region by maintaining its local talent. It also seeks to address the various socio-economic and cultural issues associated with Ladakh and Himalayas like unemployment, lack of professional competence and loss of the culture. The Naropa campus is located at Hemis, a beautiful village in Leh.
5. Gandhi Fellowship Program
Started in 2008, the Gandhi Fellowship is an intensive rural residential program that helps the young people develop their leadership skills that can help bring critical change in the society. The fellows work to study and address problems in various sectors by working cooperatively with stakeholders and implementing solutions to bring a change in both self and society.The curriculum of this fellowship also involves practices like Vipassana for better understanding of self and bootcamps for discovering one’s full potential.
6. Legislative Assistant to Members of Parliament (LAMP)
A 11-month program, the LAMP Fellowship is one of the most prestigious fellowships in India, in which young people are mentored directly by the Members of Parliament. The fellowship begins in the Monsoon Session and continues till the budget session. This is an excellent opportunity for young professionals to get exposed to various parliamentary affairs, the law-making process, and at the same time provides the Parliamentarians with extensive knowledge and research support.
Fellowship programs can be a fantastic opportunity to understand some ground realities and to start a professional journey without making any hasty long term commitments. Fellowships bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
