The Naropa Fellowship is a fully residential one-year post-graduate academic programme that began in 2019, under the guidance of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa and Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha. The fellowship programme aims to nurture and inspire agents of change to work towards fostering an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and growth while preserving the cultural heritage of the Himalayas. It provides multi-disciplinary education to equip the students with the necessary skills to enhance their careers in entrepreneurship and social change.
The fellows are taught by leading experts from various fields, over the four converging curricular tracks. With a combination of visiting faculties and guest lecturers from leading institutions such as Harvard and Oxford, the fellowship organizes several workshops and seminars from industry-leading experts to equip the fellows with professional and entrepreneurial skills. Fellows are also assigned an industry leader as a mentor to track the Live-Action Projects (LAP) and the entrepreneurship track. Sustained mentorship is also provided by a select group of experienced professionals holding senior leadership positions across industries and domains.
The curriculum is divided into 8 terms of 6 weeks, spanning 12 months. Each term is designed around 5-8 courses with a Live-Action Project. Live-Action projects that run simultaneously throughout the academic year encourage the Fellows to design sustainable entrepreneurial solutions for the local community in Ladakh and the larger Himalayan region. Each LAP is nurtured through the ideation and product development stages, right up to formal incubation, such that it outlasts the Fellowship and evolves as a self-sustaining and regionally relevant start-up. The fellowship is structured around four broad themes called tracks: Entrepreneurship, Society and Culture, Communication Skills and Personal Growth.
To apply, the interested candidates must possess an undergraduate or post-graduate degree from any discipline and a strong record of academic and extra-curricular engagements. They should also have an interest in the culture and heritage of Ladakh and the Himalayan region, and a commitment towards working for the region. The fellowship is open to all students and working professionals who have an interest in ecological issues, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship and tourism.
The Naropa Fellows experience an enriching year, forming life-long relationships and professional networks. At the end of the year, the fellows are awarded a Post-Graduate Certification of Completion in Entrepreneurial Leadership. The intensive programme equips the fellows with the skills and tools necessary to successfully promote business and enterprise and bring positive changes in the Himalayan region. The Fellows are prepped to start their own new ventures or to play crucial roles in existing companies and not-for-profits. To apply for the programme, the interested candidates can click here.
