From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 28: A collaborative effort by Christ University, Karnataka State Knowledge Commission and Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC) has helped 25 students pursuing graduation (BA) in social sciences in getting a scholarship of Rs 7500 per year under the Social Science Talent Search (SSTS) scholarship programme.
The students were given the first half-yearly scholarship at a function held at ISEC.
The 25 students will get the scholarship for a span of three years till completion of their graduation in social sciences, said a press note issued by ISEC.
The scholarship programme is an initiative to address the dwindling interest among student fraternity, in social science subjects opted for degree courses.
The programme launched in January 2011.
The scholarship aimed to attract talented youth into the social science disciplines by motivating and informing them about the importance of social sciences in nation-building and the available career opportunities within.
Dr N Prabhu Dev, Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore University, R S Deshpande, Director, ISEC; M K Sridhar, Member Secretary, Karnataka State Knowledge Commission, Father C C Jose of Christ University, V M Rao, visiting professor, ISEC, were present at the programme.
Speaking at the function, Prof Deshpande said the scholarship aimed at attracting the young and talented minds to social science stream by promoting their interest in these basic social sciences.
This is a pilot project which would be extended to the state and national levels subsequently on the lines of the National Talent Search Examination in Science, he said.
To begin with, the pilot project was confined only to colleges in the Bangalore Division comprising more than 800. The selection was made through a Common Entrance Test.
Out of the scholarship amout of Rs 7,500 a year, the Bangalore University would grant scholarship of Rs 5,000 per year.
The students are given orientation twice a year at ISEC, jointly coordinated by a team of experts from the Bangalore University and the Karnataka Knowledge Commission.