Ashoka University launches pre-college summer programme for high school students

 New Delhi, April 15

Ashoka University today launched Young Scholars Programme (YSP) 2021, a unique summer pre-college programme, which introduces high school students to a liberal arts & science education. It is a five-day long programme commencing on June 14 and ending on June 18. The programme will offer an intimate learning experience by world-class faculty to the students. 

 YSP is a certified online programme which includes a range of activities such as faculty presentations, writing, multimedia learning, creative workshops and group discussions.

Launched in 2016, the programme has grown 35% year-on-year to reach over 1250 students. YSP was earlier initiated as a one-week-in-person on campus programme that introduced students to the academic subjects and college life at Ashoka. It has now expanded its offering to a deeper study of subjects in its YSP-Advanced version, to exploring social impact and change at the YSP-Urban Lab. Ever since its inception, YSP has touched lives of more than 1000 high school students all across.

 YSP is a pan-India programme for all the curious minds studying in IX, X, XI and XII. Applicants are expected to fill an online form giving their high school marks along with an essay. Applicants should demonstrate intellectual curiosity and have the ability to explore ideas.  YSP also offers financial aid to students and has partnered with several NGO schools which send its students for the programme.

 Speaking about YSP, Dr Vanita Shastri, Dean of Global Education & Strategic Programs and founder of YSP at Ashoka University, said, “It is most satisfying to see the young students come into the programme and have a life altering experience at YSP. Each one of them takes away something meaningful for their own academic journey from their time here.”

 Over 200 plus schools have become important feeder schools to the programme. Ranging from Economics, International Relations, Philosophy and Computer Science to History and Literature — the presentations focus on broadening the horizons of learning and exploration for the students of the YSP in modules specifically designed for the Young Scholars Programme. In addition, YSP also introduces students to adaptive learning, critical & analytical thinking, communications and organizational skills, creativity and much more.

 Owing to the pandemic, YSP has reinvented itself to innovate and re-imagine virtual learning spaces. The subjects at YSP are taught by Ashoka’s powerhouses who have ignited the flame of curiosity in their fields across the globe. It is a different experience when a student learns from professors who are conducting primary research in their fields too. The findings from the lab or field to the classroom is a unique feature of the YSP presentations.

YSP adds value to the student’s outlook and education. It enables them to develop and express their own ideas in a well-reasoned, lucid and engaging manner. In keeping with the mission of recognizing and awarding excellent talent YSP admits a few students based on their merit. This year the Ashoka outreach team spotted an outstanding student, Anvesh Subham Pradhan, from Class IX of DAV School, Chandrasekharpur, who was awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for his excellence in the field of Scholastics on Republic Day 2021. Anvesh has been admitted to the YSP programme and is looking forward to attending the programme this summer. He has also been the recipient of over 200 certificates, prizes and scholarships from various reputed institutions at the national and international level.

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