Head start on the learning curve

Universities in India and abroad are reaching out to young talent.

Indian B-schools and international universities are now traversing the extra mile to catch potential students at a young age.

The Indian Institute of Management Indore, Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business (ISB), Harvard University and University of California, Irvine, are some of the prominent institutes that are approaching prospective students at the undergraduate level through various initiatives.

While ISB connects with young students through its Young Leaders Programme (YLP), Harvard University’s Secondary School Programme (SSP), a high school summer programme, allows them to explore subjects which are not available in high school and earn college credit in Harvard courses.

Last week, the University of California (UC), Irvine, launched its International Undergraduate Preparation Program (IUPP) which will prepare qualified students for undergraduate admission and academic success at the university. Within the IUPP, UC has launched two new tracks — engineering track and biological sciences track — for Indian students. Each track has a special curriculum of essential freshmen courses that is designed and overseen by the respective school of engineering or biological sciences. UC officials believe that this initiative will help prepare participants to score higher in the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and gives them an opportunity to take American and academic culture courses to better assimilate with the local culture.

Angelika P Volkman, director of International Programs at the University of California, Irvine, says, “Students are enrolled in three quarters’ worth of freshmen courses alongside matriculated students, the credits from which can be applied to UC Irvine or other university undergraduate studies. This means that Indian students still graduate within four years’ time.”

ISB’s YLP on the other hand aims to identify young achievers from across the world. The talent of these undergraduate students may be reflected in their outstanding academic records and/or extra-curricular achievements. YLP provides guaranteed admission to one-year Post Graduate Programme (PGP) at ISB, after one year and nine months of work experience.

Deepak Chandra, dean of Indian School of Business, says, “It is important to get in good students to your school. Plus, developmental efforts should start at an early age. We have tried to identify the right people at an early stage. Our Young Leaders Programme is an initiative in this direction.” The response to the programme, he says, is quite good but since ISB is selective, only about 50 students made it this year. The programme also accelerates career growth during the two pre-PGP years through structured learning and mentorship programmes and concludes with admission to post graduate programme in management.

To get selected, apart from having an outstanding record in academics and extra-curricular activities, candidates have to submit GMAT scores and go through an on-campus selection process. Each selected candidate is given a YLP scholarship of Rs 1 lakh, in addition to their existing need, merit and corporate scholarships.

Harvard University’s SSP, the university’s website says, is open to all high school students who will graduate in 2012, 2013 or 2014, and meet the application and admission criteria. An email sent to Professor Venkatesh N Murthy for Harvard Summer Programme in India remained unanswered.

IIM Indore has also launched a five-year integrated programme in management that will provide both undergraduate and post graduate education. The institute will begin the programme on November 14.