(12PressRelease.com) Thinking within a box is common. Thinking out of the box has become a cliché abused far more than used. What if there is no box at all? What if instead of being ´taught‘ to think, which is in itself a no-brainer, deserving young Indians go through a process that catalyses their evolution into great leaders who will fulfil the promise of a shining new India?
YIF (The Young India Fellowship) in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania‘s School of Engineering and Applied Science, is geared up to nurture 50 young promising minds into fearless thinking. Deep thinking. Thinking that will make a difference to the world NOW.
“Currently, the Indian education system is such that it makes students specialize right from the early stages,†says Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha, Founding Dean of ISB, Hyderbad and founder of YIF. Students very rarely find time to explore, discover their latent talents, personal interests. “If you look at the global situation right now, the world needs people with a broad perspective. People who can deal with any situation,†Dr. Sinha adds. India doesn‘t offer this wide perspective in its current education system which is still stuck in the time warp of route learning belonging to a couple of centuries ago. And in all its uni-dimensional glory, this is obviously flawed like a bull with blinkers on.
Learning to learn is not easy the human brain has been trained to fear learning. “The children we see coming out of schools and colleges have knowledge. Textbook knowledge,†Dr. Sinha points out.
“Norms and paradigms in India need to change. The YIF programme has an absolutely world class education aspect,†says Ashish Gupta, COO, Evalueserve, founder, YIF.
“We are looking at the best minds in India, who have a focus beyond engineering, who are looking at Liberal Arts, which, frankly, doesn‘t exist in India as it exists in the West,†says Sunish Sharma, Managing Director at General Atlantic and founder, YIF. Once the experimental thought process begins in an individual, developmental scope becomes limitless. The carefully chosen faculty from around the globe are all experts in provoking thought, delving deep into a young mind and bringing out the best.
YIF will be awarding a scholarship to the 50 bright, young students from genres as diverse as there are subjects to qualify in: engineering, law, art, accounts, history, English literature and the liberal arts.
Classes will cover a spectrum of subjects: anthropology, ethics, climate change, art appreciation and entrepreneurship. Writing and communication, numbers and problem solving go hand in hand with business and critical thinking all from inspirational teachers.
A privileged lot, the YIF 50 will brighten the future with inspired ideas geared at making a difference. To India. To the world.
Ameeta Agnihotri.