94 out of 100 students who attended the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGN) Dakshana Leadership Programme have cleared JEE Advanced 2022, including four students scoring in the range of 1,000 to 2,000 rank and one student achieving AIR Rank 1 in the Schedule Caste- Persons with Disabilities (SC-PwD) category.
The IITGN-Dakshana Leadership Programme aims to equip students with industrial skills and knowledge in an IIT environment to help them reach their full potential. These 100 Dakshana scholars, predominantly from rural India, are being trained in essential skills of leadership, critical thinking, and communication by some of the best mentors from India and abroad at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN).
An official statement from IITGN said, “What makes these students and their achievements stand apart is also their humble backgrounds. These students come here from the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and other government schools across India after getting selected for intensive coaching based on their outstanding academic abilities despite the weak financial condition of their families.”
The communication skills module, being taught by a journalistic team from the Fair Observer, an international magazine, helps them ace their English language and communication skills to build their confidence while speaking. The Leadership module, being imparted by the Competitiveness Mindset Institute, with their “Finding a Leader in You” programme, aims to make students aware of their strengths and work on their weaknesses to become confident leaders. The course introduces students to concepts of ethics, perseverance, teamwork, and time management. The critical thinking module, being delivered by Professor Jaison A Manjaly from IITGN, encourages students to ask critical questions about existing theories, principles, and possibilities.
In addition to this, the month-long residential programme aims to engage students in various extracurricular activities like clay workshop, learning science and mathematics concepts through DIY toys with the Centre for Creative Learning at IITGN, sports, swimming, martial arts, yoga, heritage walk in old Ahmedabad, and visit to the Sabarmati Ashram. Students will also be visiting Ahmedabad Science City to explore the demonstrations and exhibitions.
Hailing from Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh and affiliated with Dakshana centre in Hyderabad, Manjaree has achieved AIR rank 1,170 and 126th rank in the general-EWS (Economically Weaker Section) category. Her father is a shopkeeper, and her mother is a housewife. Sharing her aspirations and skills learnt at the IITGN-Dakshana Leadership Programme, Manjaree said, “I wish to make my career in Applied Physics. I am sure I will be able to fulfil my dream by getting into an IIT. The current programme at IITGN has helped me improve my problem-solving skills and confidence to take initiatives.”
