■ The ten-week initiative will commence on May 15

■ 130 students from undergraduate, postgraduate, and research backgrounds have applied for the fellowship this year

KIRANMAI TUTIKA | AMARAVATI

After a hiatus of several years, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) is set to revive its prestigious Summer Fellowship Program from this year. Titled ‘Summer Fellowship-2025’, the ten-week initiative will commence on May 15, aiming to inject fresh insights and innovation into the State’s higher education system.

A dynamic team of young scholars—drawn from some of the world's leading institutions including Columbia University, HEC Paris, University of Michigan, IITs, BITS-Pilani, ISB, National University of Singapore, St. Stephen’s College, and 17 other top universities—will embark on a comprehensive field study across Andhra Pradesh's state-run universities.

According to APSCHE officials, around 130 students from undergraduate, postgraduate, and research backgrounds have applied for the fellowship this year, bringing diverse expertise and global perspectives to the project.

The fellowship program is designed not merely as an academic exercise but as a hands-on, field-driven mission. Fellows will evaluate the current status of universities, identify areas for improvement, propose strategies to scale up skill development, foster entrepreneurship, enhance research outputs, and recommend reforms to bridge gaps in the education system.

“The project aims to produce an in-depth, actionable analysis from a team of young professionals who blend rigorous fieldwork with critical thinking,” said K. Madhu Murthy, Chairman of APSCHE to Metro India. “We first launched this initiative in 2019 and saw incredible results. However, the program was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Relaunching it now signals our renewed commitment to strengthening the education sector. This fellowship not only helps us assess university performances but also provides critical insights into shortcomings and solutions.”

Each participant will be assigned to a core project area, with two fellows typically collaborating on each assignment, while certain research projects will be pursued individually. The thematic areas to be explored include, improving entrepreneurship and innovation, forging International collaborations, career development and placements, advancing e-learning models, and vocationalisation and skill development. In addition to these, four independent research projects are also on the agenda.

Incentives galore

To incentivize high performance, the fellowship program offers a structured honorarium. Participants rated ‘Outstanding’ will receive Rs.1,00,000, those rated ‘Good’ will earn Rs.85,000, and fellows rated ‘Satisfactory’ will be awarded Rs.70,000 for the entire tenure.

Officials stressed that the Summer Fellowship is not just an academic engagement but a crucial step towards reshaping the future of higher education in Andhra Pradesh by involving some of the brightest young minds globally.

With an impressive line-up of participants and a clear roadmap, ‘Summer Fellowship-2025’ promises to be a game-changer in the State’s efforts to raise educational standards and drive meaningful change across its institutions.