On April 10th, the campuses of Ekya Schools buzzed with a different kind of excitement. It wasn’t the usual chatter about homework, tests, or basketball matches. Students talked about stepping into new worlds—workspaces that promised hands-on experience in areas ranging from space research to digital marketing. The much-anticipated Work Exposure Program (WEP) had officially commenced, and by May 12th, a host of transformative experiences were in the books.
For six to eight weeks, students found themselves navigating the professional world—meeting deadlines, taking on challenges, and collaborating as part of a team. The program saw participation from 26 partner organisations and offered 133 internship opportunities across various fields. Despite the hurdles like adapting to new environments and Bengaluru’s traffic, our 74 interns who completed their internships told us- it was worth it.
One of the unique features of our Work Exposure Program is the amount of choice given to students. A comprehensive website laid out the details of each partner organisation, the kind of work involved, and the benefits of signing up. This allowed our young minds to make informed decisions, choosing fields they were genuinely interested in. We also prepared them by conducting resume-building and WEP introduction sessions across all campuses.
Neha from EITPL, who interned at Redwood Edutours, gushed about her work on student engagement projects. “Researching locations and designing handbooks wasn’t just work; it was fun,” she said. Ashrith, who did research that might be used by ISRO in the future, couldn’t have been happier. “This experience opened my eyes to new career paths,” he reflected.
The feedback from our partner organisations was overwhelmingly positive. Genex Space praised Devika and Ashrith for their punctuality and quality of work. CRY was impressed with the sincerity of our students, and Hapchi lauded Ekya Schools for matching them with a student who brought fresh perspectives to their team.
We must thank the parents for their continued support. One parent, whose daughter Shreya received a job offer through her internship, couldn’t hide their enthusiasm. “Shreya gained invaluable skills that extend far beyond the classroom,” they said. In closing, the 2023 Work Exposure Program wasn’t just an internship initiative; it was a journey that has shaped our students for the better. It has been yet another testament to what can be achieved through dedication, hard work, and the right opportunities. Thank you to all who made it such a success. Here’s to bigger and better experiences in 2024!
Leadership is not just a title; it is a journey of continuous growth and development. The Leadership Bootcamp organised by the Student Development team on September 19th was an extraordinary day that brought together over 120 student leaders from Ekya, CMR NPS and CMR PU campuses. The day was filled with wisdom, stories of resilience, and the forging of future leaders.
The vision of the Leadership Bootcamp is to “Provide students with transformative experiences to excel at their leadership posts and enable them to be globally competitive and resilient leaders of the future.”
The Leadership Bootcamp started with Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy, Vice President of CMR Group of Institutions, Founder of Ekya Schools and Provost of CMR University, inspiring a welcome address that set the tone for an enriching journey of growth and learning. Her wisdom and guidance undoubtedly set the foundation for leadership excellence. The keynote address by Dr. Ishani Roy, Founder and CEO, Serein Inc, emphasised the significance of inclusivity, adaptability, and what it takes to be an inclusive leader. Dr. Roy set the stage for a day of self-discovery and leadership exploration.
Captain Vaibhav Pandey, Assistant Vice President, Vestian Global Workplace Pvt Limited, and Archana Mohan, Co-Founder, Bookosmia, took the stage, offering a glimpse into their remarkable journeys. Their stories of leadership, courage, and determination resonated deeply with all attendees, serving as a testament to the transformative power of effective leadership. Captain Vaibhav’s session on Adapting to Change brought insights and strategies that equip us to navigate uncharted waters with confidence, and Archana Mohan’s session on self-expression was a game changer for the students as the students learned the 3 best practices for leadership.
A pivotal session on leadership skills and core values provided the students with the tools necessary to lead effectively. The discussions delved into the importance of teamwork, communication, and moral principles in leadership roles.
Students left with a better understanding of key leadership skills and values and how to apply them in practical situations on campus. The experience also encouraged them to think critically about their personal leadership journeys and development. Students took back with them their leadership development plan and SWOT analysis to help them continue their leadership journey. Students' reflections included thoughts such as leadership is not about holding a position but about taking action and inspiring others to follow. The journey of leadership is ongoing, and the Leadership Bootcamp was a vital step in their journey, equipping them with the knowledge and inspiration to lead authentically and effectively.
Gautam Aravindan, Bhoomi House Captain, from CMR PU ITPL
I really appreciated the session on Diversity and Inclusion as well as the one on adaptability to change, because I found those 2 topics the most relatable amongst others. Although, all of them were really valuable and provided me with really good insights. I would like to appreciate each and every council member amongst all the campuses because they all were really kind during the interaction session, and all of their presentations were amazing and bold, which I really appreciate.
Megha M S, Head Girl, CMR NPS
To be grounded and true to our values even when we reach a certain level or have a certain amount of power and it was very interesting to bond with other school’s council members and get to know what their plan of action for their institution.
Sahasya Vinodraj, Editor, Ekya BTM
Huge kudos to the student development team of Ekya for organising this event annually for council members. It's been such a memorable experience, and it's extremely well-organized!
Karen Grace Rohit, Agni House Vice Captain, CMR NPS
My key takeaways are the qualities of a leader that were stressed upon such as the relevance of being assertive and approachable at the same time. I would like to affirm all the CRMNPS council members for working so hard for us this year and the teachers for helping make this session such a success. I would also like to affirm the council and staff of all the other schools for being extremely friendly and helpful.
WE ARE LEADERS! WE ARE THE FUTURE