In today’s age of globalization and digital economy, the international & cross-cultural experience is becoming more important for the millennials. Be it for self-discovery or to stand out in the international job market, many students from all over the world attend a summer program abroad. For international students, attending an international summer school program in India could be a great boost to their careers. In this article, we will discuss why you should attend a summer school program in India. Additionally, we will look at the Experience India Program, a summer school program for the foreign students aged 18 or above (from US, UK, Canada, China, Africa, Middle-East, Europe, etc.) by Lovely Professional University (LPU), one of the best and largest private universities in India.
Why Attend a Summer School Program Abroad?
The benefits of attending a summer program are anyway manifold. But, opting for a summer school abroad is like taking it to the next level.
Summer school programs abroad provide a great opportunity to learn and develop new skills while experiencing a new and exciting learning environment. Some international students go to summer schools to practice their language skills, some want to learn more about subjects they are interested in, and others want to test how they like a completely new field of interest.
Apart from intensive academic courses, students also have the option to attend extracurricular activities designed to encourage socialization and stimulate cultural awareness. Usually, summer programs cover a lot of information in a short amount of time. As a result, subjects will be more focused on specific topics in relation to the set outcomes. Smaller class sizes also lead to higher interaction between students and the faculty. The condensed study environment allows faculty members teachers to answer your questions in higher detail and encourage class debates.
In today’s competitive economy, apart from soft skills & hard skills, employers prefer folks with a broader outlook, international exposure, and cross-cultural awareness (cultural intelligence). Of course, there are other ways to develop this – full-fledged study abroad degree programs, multi-city study programs, or exchange programs. But, a summer school abroad is a great alternative if you don’t want to commit too much time away from home or don’t want to spend too much.
Overall, attending a summer program abroad is a great opportunity to add another valuable dimension to your personality, challenge yourself, experience a real adventure, and become a more mature & aware individual.
Why Attend a Summer School in India?
Unique and Incredible
You would be pressed hard to find a country on this planet that blazes its way more than India. As the fifth-largest economy and seventh-largest country, India is located in the midst of water and mountains.
As the birthplace of four religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism) & society with many other religions and castes, a booming telecommunications industry, digital revolution, increasing start-up mindset, and culture that spans 4,500 years, India is known as a land of color, culture, and contrasts. Long before the Beatles traveled to Rishikesh in 1968, India has been known as a deeply ‘spiritual’ country that is simultaneously one of the fastest-growing economies, the largest democracies, and one of the oldest civilizations.
As an international student, Summer School Abroad in India sounds like the perfect combination of exciting travel, personal discovery, and immersion in a foreign country.
Diverse Options to Travel
India is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, aka the Taj Mahal. Mountains, sea beaches, deserts, lakes, forests – you name, India has it. One of the things visitors always marvel at in India is the magnificent architecture found throughout the country, and it varies so much where ever you go.
You can travel as cheaply or as lavishly as you want in India, and that’s definitely part of its appeal as a tourist destination.
Indian Hospitality
There’s nothing like Indian hospitality. Indians consider it a huge honor to have guests in their home and go out of their way to please them.
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
India is a place that everyone should visit once in their lives to get out of their comfort zones and get a different perspective on life. The culture shock in India can be hard to deal with. However, you’ll quickly come to appreciate what you have back home and how fortunate you really are. It’s impossible to leave India the same person as when you arrived.
Spiritual Discovery
India can be very inspiring and refreshing for the soul. Many people come to India to learn yoga, meditate, or spend time at an ashram. Another moving experience is to take part in an evening aarti (fire worship) along the Ganges River at either Rishikesh, Haridwar, or Varanasi.
Exotic Food
Foodies and lovers of flavor and spice will be met with many different regional cuisines. The North is known for tandoori chicken and creamy curry, while the ocean influences the South with tastes of coconuts grown in Kerala, seafood curries and rice. You will not find too many varieties of tea (e.g. Masala Chai) outside India. Also not forget the street foods.
Indian food can take a bit of getting used to for some people, but it really is more than worth it.
Arts & Crafts
India has many irresistible items. The handicrafts are particularly eye-catching and well made. Each region tends to specialize in a particular industry that’s been handed down over generations.
The Big Opportunity to Stand Out in Today’s Digital & Global Job Market
Currently, there are many summer programs that aim at promoting international goodwill and cross-cultural dialogue amongst young individuals; with India as a study model. They help the students to develop their potential as future leaders in government, business, and civil society.
They offer undergraduate course modules and experiences that expose the students to a range of issues, which are shaping contemporary developing societies.
The biggest advantage of attending a summer school in India is the opportunity. For someone who is smart, hardworking, willing to take risks and prepared to live somewhere just outside the societal norms and expectations, there is a vast amount of opportunity.
Almost all top MNCs, Big Brands, and Tech Giants like Amazon, WalMart, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Uber, Apple, PayPay, etc. all have got their eyes on India as one of the key markets.
Let’s face it, for any business, it’s extremely important to know your customers. Additionally, an emotional connection with customers is the key to success for an organization. So, exposure to the user-base at the ground level will be a big boost to your CV.
Hence, as you can see, a summer school program in India has got a lot to offer. Now, let’s move on to our next agenda – the Experience India Summer Program by Lovely Professional University (LPU).
Experience India Program
A Summer School for Students from USA, UK, Canada, Europe, China, Africa, Middle East, etc.
By Aman Mittal, Director, Lovely Professional University
Introduction
Lovely Professional University (LPU) has been hosting summer program by the name of “Experience India Program” every year since 2007 at their campus which is ensconced between the twin cities of Phagwara and Jalandhar, in the picturesque Punjab province of India. LPU has a sprawling lush green, state of the art campus spread over 600+acres of land with all amenities and facilities like a shopping mall, banks, foreign exchange, hotel, post office, Bowling alley, gymnasium, etc. right on the campus.
Main Objective
India does not need an introduction: the politics, the magic, the cricket, the jazz, the culture, the sun, the weather, the engineers … the world is hooked to India. Everyone is intrigued and amazed at the way our economy is growing, at our demographic dividend and at our sheer- relentless drive to excel…we are like a real fairy tale!
Study India program walks you through the fantasy and shows you the reality of how India has morphed from yoga, Ayurveda and tikka masala to giving the world Sundar Pichai and the Lovely Professional University!!
LPU will show you what India has to offer under the sun…. and under the moonlight… waltzing through the dreamy Himalayas, wrapped in the romantic Taj Mahal and the showy, pulsating swagger of Punjab, you will live the dream all the 10 days of your life!
LPU has tapped right into the warm, hospitable emotion present in every Indian and captured the incurable artistic soul of the country to deliver this wonderful, unique study India program. This program will have a strong academic blend and extraordinary multi-cultural experiences.
How the Experience India Program will Help International Students
The program is customized to deliver a highly entertaining, realistic and life-changing portrayal of the country….your take away would be the excellent teaching, an evolved personality, and memorable experiences, all brought together by a team of kind, dedicated intelligent and hardworking people who will hold your hand as you immerse yourself in this refreshing, life-changing experience. By attending this “Experience India Program” students would learn about academics, Folk dances in a cultural milieu, Indian traditional cooking, Yoga, Ayurveda, etc.
Key Benefits of the Experience India Program
- You will learn basic survival Hindi
- You will get to know about very beautiful Indian dance forms.
- You will be able to surprise people with your Indian dance performance
- As Indian business has grown tremendously, by the end of the program you would have appreciation towards Indian business culture and environment.
- India is also known as the Land of Yoga and Meditation. You will learn techniques helping you to lead a healthy and peaceful life.
- You will also learn about the rich history of India by visiting areas of great importance like The Golden Temple, Delhi, Taj Mahal.
Who Can Attend the Experience India Program at LPU
Any international student can attend the summer school and must be of the age of 18 years and above.
Over the last couple of years, Lovely Professional University has successfully hosted 200+ university students from various parts of the world in these short duration programs. The main participants of these programs have been students from partner and non-partner universities from Canada, USA, UK, China, and many more countries. The participants of the summer school can be any student from any domain. This program can be customized keeping in mind the academic needs of the group.
Under “Experience India Program”, LPU has hosted students from the following universities:
- Cambridge University, UK
- Oxford University, UK
- King’s College, London, UK
- London School of Economics, UK
- Mount Royal University, Canada
- Iowa State University, USA; Teesside University, UK
- Wolverhampton University, UK
- Coventry University, UK; University College London, UK
- Kunming University, China
- Busan University, South Korea
- Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK
- University College London, UK
The students were a mix of students generally male-female ratio is of 50:50.
Time, Duration, Cost, and Application Process
Generally, the summer school happens in the month of June and July and is of two-week duration. The cost of the program is USD $1,750. Here is the link to the application page of Summer School.
Accommodation Arrangements
The students would be staying at Uni-hotel inside the campus having all modern amenities. The campus is totally secured having around 3500+ CCTV cameras all around the campus and 200+ security personnel including both male and female staff.
Why Should You Attend the Experience India Program at LPU
You should attend this summer school if you want to understand the real India. It will be an in-person experience which is delivered to you in a multi-faceted dimension. Giving you a fabulous insight into the colorful Indian culture and its heritage, covering the staggering growth that the world has witnessed and how it has put India on the center stage of the world economy. India is a land of opportunities and this may just be the window to a brilliant future!
This program can be customized to accommodate the needs of a specific academic discipline, but it will definitely include the following elements:
- A mix of group activities
- Learning Indian dances, discussions
- Visit heritage places
- Interaction and visit to corporate houses, NGO’S
- Conclusion with a gala evening and a certificate ceremony
This program lets the student’s experience the new urbanism walk and cycle to work concept in the campus and gives an enriching and practical session into the ancient values Yoga and Ayurveda.
Quick Facts about LPU
- Lovely Professional University holds the honor of being India’s largest University in terms of the number of On-campus students.
- It has a sprawling lush green campus spread in 600+ acres of land.
- More than 35000 students including national and international students are a part of LPU.
- LPU is also recognized by University Grant Commission (UGC) a statutory body of the Government of India established for the coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards of university education in India.
Author Bio:
Director at the largest university of India LPU, Aman Mittal is a young and dynamic force of LPU Executive Management. In his management approach, the 37-year old believes in choosing the path less traveled – a trait he imbibed the best while pursuing MBA from the University of Southampton, UK.
Graduate in Electronics Engineering from reputed Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology – Patiala (India), he has a compound and unique force of managing things with latest tech tracks. Thus, he has vividly been instrumental in reinforcing the management style of LPU with a tech-oriented approach, which is widely appreciated & adopted by institutions of other countries as well.
Original Source of Featured Image: A Broken Backpack
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