Cargilllaunches new scholarship programme to help build future potential leaders

Updated on: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Cargill, working with the Institute of International Education (IIE), has launched a new scholarship program in five countries including India to help build future potential leaders. The Cargill Global Scholars program will provide financial support, leadership development and enrichment opportunities to nearly 200 talented and high-performing undergraduate students in these countries over three years, selecting at least 10 students in each country every year. The selected individuals will be chosen based on their demonstrated high level of academic performance and leadership potential.

Pat Bowe, corporate vice president at Cargill said in a global announcement, "Cargill has long been committed to improving the communities in which we operate, and supporting higher education is part of this commitment."

"The Cargill Global Scholars program will succeed when these students go on to become important leaders in their respective communities and industries and be part of a global network of program alumni." Initially, students from five countries will be selected as Cargill Global Scholars. These countries include Brazil, China, Russia, India and the United States.

IIE will work with specific universities in each of these countries to identify the scholars. Targeted outreach will be conducted to reach under-represented groups in higher education in each country or region. Siraj Chaudhry, chairman, Cargill India, said, "In India, 10 scholarships will be awarded in the 2012-2013 academic year in five leading science and technology institutions. The participating Indian institutions in the program are Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai; National Institute of Technology, Trichy; Delhi Technological University and BIT Mesra."

"In addition to financial support, students will gain valuable opportunities to observe and learn from business and community leaders in their own countries," said IIE president, Allan E Goodman. According to a press statement, selected students will receive scholarship funds of up to USD 2,500 per year for up to three years and will be invited to take part in a series of leadership and enrichment activities designed to enhance their critical thinking skills and equip them with the tools necessary for becoming leaders and decision makers in their chosen fields. In the first year of the program, each scholar will participate in leadership training modules. They will also be paired with a Cargill employee, including company executives, who will serve as a mentor over the next several years.

These mentors will help students identify and realize short- and long-term academic and professional goals. In addition, five top-performing students from each country who are in the second year of their program will be selected to attend an event at Cargill's global headquarters in Minnesota or a Cargill-related facility to take part in a week-long Global Leadership Program. Approximately 50 to 70 scholars from these five countries will be selected each year. The first group of nearly 60 students will be selected in May and June 2013 and will begin their three-year program of activities in June and July 2013.

Cargilllaunches new scholarship programme to help build future potential leaders

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