The joy of ‘discovering’ something new daily is a pleasure in itself. The barrage of ideas each class greeted me with can never be appreciated well enough. This experience was far different from the dread of attending classes I had at my other academic institutions. From the classrooms to fortnightly meetings, the individual attention has helped me iron some of the flaws in my research work. The classroom discussions also helped me rediscover the passion to read and write things outside the law. It is said that to give shape to a piece of stone is simple. But to add specific details to the stone, so that it resembles a sculpture requires a sculptor.

It is my belief that in the short span of one year, the Professors at JGU have managed to turn the stone into something definitive and gave me a solid foundation for my professional career.

In 2020 I began a new chapter at JGU, this time as a faculty member. I teach with the aim of imparting the methods of wit and patience that I was fortunate to learn from my teachers and hope to encourage students to reach scale new heights and find the best versions of themselves.“

Reflecting on his journey at JGU, and receiving one of the highest salary packages during campus placement, Shubham shares his story – “Back in September in 2020, I joined JGU, the decision to do so was backed by a personal quest to equip myself with the skillsets necessary to understand the world of international relations along with a hope to interact with fellow students as well as faculties who represented multitudes of personality, vigour, interests, backgrounds, and academic journeys.

As remarkable as it was, battling the pandemic, and a constant quest between electives and semesters, we – the students, faculties, and adjoining staffs made sure, the process of educating ourselves must continue amidst many difficulties, albeit through virtual mediums.

JSIA allowed me to navigate through different set of electives giving me an ample space to discover the various facets of International Affairs as the course itself suggests the tri-components of Diplomacy, Law & Business. I exercised full discretion while choosing the list of electives carefully between different set of clusters and managed to grasp the essentials of Economics and Foreign Policy, Defence and National Security Studies and Human Rights & International Development. Additionally, the course being research oriented, and research driven pushed me into analysis, reading and writing for which I benefit in today and would do in my future endeavours.

Professor Haseeb has supported us with his insights on diplomacy, CSR, and International Law, Professor Mohan helped us understand the complex pieces of Indian Foreign Policy. At one hand, while I learnt the intricacies of Intelligence Research by Prof. Dr Shishir Upadhyay, I tried to combine his lectures on Maritime strategy with the deliberations upon National Security and Military Strategy by Prof. Maj. Gen. A K Singh. I also took courses offered by Prof. Priyanka Chandra to understand the complexities of the West Asia which in combination with a course on International Migration by Prof. Sugandha Nagpal, and International Development by Prof. Dr Kena Wani allowed me to develop a holistic canvas of humanitarian crisis fuelled by unstable economy and destabilizing politics.
All in all, if not without the hand in hand guidance of Prof. Shivani, who through her watchful eyes made me stick to the grit of quality research, to whom I stand utmost grateful.

Nevertheless, I also interacted and participated in co-curricular activities, all through virtual mediums, which meant a consistent effort by students to re-invent the ideas of collaboration, cooperation, and learnings.

JSIA’s facilitation of internship opportunities in record number of institutions and organizations helped me filter out some meaningful engagements with multiple projects. I joined International Solar Alliance as an International Relations and Protocol Intern. Further I had a very memorable experience with LPAI, MHA where I first-hand conducted and collated research on Indo- Nepal international border trade, with the support of multiple departments and officials of Govt. Of India and of Nepal. The reason I could swim across multiple challenges posed by these commitments was the nature of education provided by JSIA.

It was indeed a dedicated effort of the Team OCS (Office of Career Services), Hemlata ma’am and Vaishali ma’am who were always there to push us for realizing our true interest areas, that I managed to bag these opportunities in the first place.

At last, for all the right and obvious reasons, I must thank and salute the friends and affiliations, the bonds which kept me grounded, affectionate, curious, and steady, that through tough times, we all emerged victorious, in our own ways and shapes, and embark on a new journey in life, the difference that we aspire to make in the world, through work and smiles, I will always cherish the two years of MADLB, JSIA, and tell the stories, that, YESS, we did it, we did miss the warmth and presence of the campus, but indeed – we did it!”

Shrija’s interests have always been art, music and animals. She was affiliated to the JGU Animal Welfare Society (AWS) throughout her journey at JGU, both as a volunteer and a board member.

Shrija shares “JGU, for me, is full of fond memories – from hanging out with my friends, playing frisbee with strangers, painting in random places, strolling with dogs around the campus, to rescuing all sorts of animals and birds and helping them find forever homes. All of it was so fulfilling.” She adds “As an institution, JGU has been a fundamental point of character development for me. I learned to see things from a new perspective here. The interdisciplinary structure of academia was a monumental pro because it was how I found out about the intersections between law and art. It was wonderful how that widened my outlook on all things related to art.”

“I believe that one should always stand up for those without a voice. In my opinion, kindness is that overlooked virtue that holds the power to be a catalyst for desired change. I was able to channel this belief and my love for animals at JGU. Becoming a part of the AWS has taught me patience and compassion – not just for animals but for people too. It was our job to balance the interests of students and the campus fauna, and we did our best. I am grateful for all the kind and not so kind interactions I have had as part of the AWS because, in some ways, it has made me who I am today.”

Reflecting on her experience with the online semester at JGU, she observes “It was quite a smooth transition. But what really stands out for me is the support I received from the institution, my peers and the administration when I lost my loved one to the pandemic – for that I will forever be grateful to JGU.”

Concluding, she notes “This was perhaps the greatest journey one could embark on which was transformational in all senses. Within those boundaries of JGU, I had found comfort and a home.”

Born and raised in Delhi, Riddhi has always found it interesting to serve the public while accumulating holistic knowledge. After exploring multiple avenues, she says “when I came to know about Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, I was so elated to reach out to the seniors of this course and then talk to the admissions committee. I also went to through students’ reviews and feedback on various platforms. I was thrilled to know that most of the reviews shared by alumni and current year students were really inspiring and convincing. Without any further thought, I decided to reach out to the university for admissions and found the entire process to be student-friendly.” 

“During the first year of college, we were exposed to many subjects such as Introduction to Public Policy, Law and Public Policy, Macro and Microeconomics, Statistics, Academic Writing and others. I loved studying all these subjects. I truly understand the zeal of my faculty members who enthused a sense of learning in me. During the third year, I chose the elective Applied Econometrics I & II which was taught by Prof. (Dr.) Krishanu Karmakar, who beautifully brought out the dimension of linking public policy and data analysis by engaging in such effective sessions,” shares Riddhi

Talking about the faculty and pedagogy of JSGP, she mentions that “all the faculty members have research experience. It was through these real-life experiences that my classes at JGU were made even more interesting and engaging. I truly feel I had the best Professors for all the subjects that MAPP offers in JSGP.”

“My interest in the field of quantitative and qualitative research methods has escalated in the past few years which triggered me to transform the society in some way or the other. My current dissertation’s research question: “What is the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) about Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms, Early Detection Methods related to breast cancer among women in New Delhi; and what explains the variance in it?” is ideated to inform policies and practices aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality caused by breast cancer,” shares Riddhi while talking about her interests.

Riddhi further goes in detail “In India, 1 in 28 women is at risk of developing breast cancer; with one case reported every 4 minutes. The survival rates of breast cancer in India are low because the detection takes place late. Linking this evidence-based data with a quantitative study that uses STATAv.14.1® as a business analytical tool for data analysis and a convenient sampling as a research method with appropriate statistical techniques like regression analysis are used. This milestone of an academic career has been one of the most intense yet most cheerful experiences of my life. My research has been conducted in the year 2022 (present) with the approval of the Research and Ethics Review Board of O P Jindal Global University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Vivek U Padvetnaya. I would like to express my gratitude to my esteemed supervisor and mentor, Dr. Vivek U Padvetnaya, for his invaluable supervision, support and tutelage during the course of this research, without whom this study would not have been possible. His consistent presence and guidance have added so much value to my work and have enabled me to tap into the depth and rigour of carrying out the research. I feel deeply grateful to him.”

“I am glad that JSGP helped me follow my dreams to pave a trajectory for knowing my inner calling in life,” concludes Riddhi.

We wish Riddhi the best for her future endeavours!

Sumalatha has previously worked as a business analyst. She has always been interested in international affairs and sustainability and that’s what drew her to pursue her Master’s degree programme at India’s No.1 Private University – JGU.

Her quest for a ‘Global University’ began when she found out about JGU through her peers. Upon this, she began her research and resonated with JGU’s world reknown faculty, international collaborations, research institutes and Institution of Imminence status. Sumalatha’s journey at #JGU began in the COVID19 pandemic and although most of her classes went ‘online’, she still enjoyed every bit of it. Her core support during the degree has been the #JSIA faculty members who not only helped her with classes but also motivated her to participate in extracurricular activities to ensure her holistic development.

Writing and Research are the key skills where Sumalatha finds her calling the most and this is something that she nurtured at #JGU. “My mentors including Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Jha and Prof. (Dr.) Ricki Levi have been a huge support in my efforts. They have always motivated me to give my best and inspired me to win the National Level Field Marshal Manekshaw essay competition and National conference on Sustainability Research paper, respectively,” shares Sumalatha.

Holding a deep interest in learning, the multi-disciplinarity fostered at JGU has aided in Sumalatha’s goals. She believes that inquisitiveness is what drives her to break out of boundaries and explore new opportunities. A key factor in developing her interest in sustainability was her love for nature, which is also a source of inspiration for her.

Talking about her favourite JGU moments Sumalatha concludes “Being selected for the Best Student JSIA ambassador award, meeting like-minded people, and the friendly teaching environment are some of my most cherished memories here at JGU”.

She is currently associated with the Ministry of Housing- PMAY-U Program, under the Government of Tamil Nadu.

We wish Sumalatha the best for her journey ahead!

Nirvik is a sanguine soul, who loves animals and has volunteered a significant portion of his time for the JGU Animal Welfare Society. Also a part of the Sports Society, he has been on the University Tennis Team. While on the academic front, he was the Chairman of the Student Academic Committee (JSGP), a teaching assistant, and a research assistant!

Upon being asked ‘Why JGU?’, Nirvik responds “Post High-school, I was looking for programmes that allowed me to learn and experiment beyond the field of Economics. My B.A. Economics (Hons.) programme was designed in a way that economics was taught through the lens of public policy. Additionally, it gave me the flexibility to venture into niche fields such as finance, psychology, and programming.”

Describing his JGU experience, he adds “I have been fortunate and grateful to have a truly holistic experience at JGU. From being part of multiple cultural events such as pottery workshops to playing tennis for the university team to spending hours in the reading room with my classmates to being a teaching assistant and interacting with my fellow juniors, I’ve had the pleasure to experience it all! Moreover, JSGP has provided a strong foundation for me, in the concepts and principles of Economics and Policy, this helped develop my interests in areas of research and academia that were earlier dormant.”

Nirvik has always wanted to pursue his Master’s degree from a top university in the world and he believes that JGU through its different initiatives has shaped his career and personality.”The guidance and one-on-one interaction with faculty along with the international exposure, have helped me prepare in the most optimal way. From picking the right course, to figuring out skillsets, to finding my ideal programme, it’s all thanks to JSGP. The JSGP administration in particular, has helped me with all my formal documentation and even accelerated my graduation to ensure I commence my next academic session at my future university on time.”

Reflecting fondly on his treasured memories, Nirvik talks about a hot summer afternoon that turned pleasant in the 2022 spring semester, he recollects “I was with two of my close friends, Devna & Khushi, as the afternoon turned breezy and cool. As we sat down to appreciate the weather, we came across a couple of adorable puppies frolicking and playing around. For the next hour or so we shared this magical moment with the puppies where we played with them and cuddled. There was just pure love and joy in the air!”

He concludes, that this is what he adores about JGU – “Within these boundaries of a few hundred acres, there is a universe of perspectives, ideologies, people and culture to explore! The diversity and flexibility to explore each avenue of academia in the field of social sciences is truly astounding.”

Nirvik is currently pursuing his Masters in Applied Economics at the National University of Singapore.

We wish him the best for his upcoming endeavours!

Now a self-assured individual, Arushi describes herself as being very different before entering JGU.  “Before joining JGU, I remember myself to be shy and an underconfident individual because I was unaware of my own capabilities and was confined to the typical Indian mode of teaching which did not match my learning style.”

However, things changed for Arushi once she joined the Liberal Arts & Humanities programme at JGU. “Having studied under the guidance of the JSLH department made me recognize my strength in writing comprehensive research papers. I also wrote a psychology thesis. The key aim of JSLH is to provide students with a holistic approach to learning about foundations of numerous subjects, some which I had not explored during my school years. When I opted to study Psychology during my final two years in school, I was certain to pursue it further and JGU provided me with immense opportunities to understand where exactly my interests lie.”

“By the time my third year, fifth semester arrived, I was rather unsure about my future career path. Having studied different core courses and electives, as interesting as they were, I was able to eliminate what I did not want to choose as my career. While courses such as Counselling Psychology and Criminal Psychology would grasp my attention and excite me, upon contemplation, I realised that I like learning about them but would not have the mental and emotional strength to deal with the consequences on field. In my fifth semester, I was looking forward to the elective Consumer Psychology offered by JIBS (Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences) and after a few classes, I noticed a change in myself. I believe this is the class where I participated the most, maybe because the professors interactive style of teaching, my passion for learning as applied the knowledge I had learnt in class in my daily routine. One of the assignments was a group presentation where we had to come up with a marketing strategy for a shoe brand which helped me realise how the concepts studied during class can be administered in practice. Therefore, I have chosen marketing as my career. I believed marketing was primarily a business course but I have now realised the role of psychology in marketing and advertising products to consumers” shares Arushi when asked about how she came to choose marketing as her final choice of career.

Sharing her personal experience as a student of JGU, Arushi feels that JGU as a university puts great importance on students’ theoretical and practical knowledge and students are given access to various resources to bring out the best in them. “As a student of JSLH, I was required to complete a minimum of four internships/summer or winter programmes/online courses to acquire a specific number of credits to graduate. Before beginning my journey at JGU, I was concerned how I, a freshman with no previous job experience, would be accepted by respected organisations to intern and learn; however, the Office of Career Services was very helpful and quickly put my mind at ease. As the first semester began, we had workshops on how to produce different documents such as a resume or cover letter and discussed the specifics in detail such as the template that needs to be followed, how to compressively showcase the information. They would further host internship fairs for students to participate as they share their resumes with esteemed companies who were looking to hire students with various qualities.”

When asked about her favourite internship experience, Arushi fondly talks about her time at Dentsu Impact. “One of the companies that I applied to through these internship fairs was Dentsu Impact, which is a branch of the Japanese advertising and public relations company Dentsu. I worked there for three months under the guidance of an account manager where I learned the process of social media and email marketing of acclaimed brands and how to compute the monthly progress regarding audience interaction. The company was very welcoming and helped me become more confident in myself, especially for the future.”

For Arushi, being at JGU has greatly helped her overcome challenges in her life and career. “JGU helps students explore their identity through numerous academic, extra-curricular, and leadership opportunities. I acted as the Director of Design for the Rotaract Club (Feb 2021 – June 2021), a member of the SGRC (Student Grievances Redressal Cell) (Jul 2020 – May 2021) to work with the JSLH student council on their social media page, peer tutored Spanish to my fellow juniors in JSLH (Feb 2021 – Jul 2021) and participated in many more such ways. JGU prepares its students for the real world and provide the essential knowledge for their future endeavours. One of the most important things I have learned through JSLH are citations and research papers. No matter a student’s future plan, JGU helps them ease the academic and professional aspects of their aspirations.”

Arushi plans to pursue her interest in marketing by studying for her masters degree. Owing to her hard work, dedication and constant effort to reach new heights she has made JGU proud by securing an offer at The University of Warwick UK for MSc Business with Marketing. We wish her the very best and are excited to see her carve her mark!

“I did my under-graduation in mass media with a specialization in journalism. After working as a news producer and researcher in business news channels for nearly 4 years, I decided to shift to a more research-oriented career. Hence, public policy was a perfect fit for my goals,” shares Shivangani as she talks about her decision to pursue a masters degree in Public Policy.

“Initially, I was a little sceptical about taking admission during the COVID-19 year, i.e., 2020. I was worried about stunted course learnings and career prospects as a good chunk of my Masters would be spent online. As it turned out, I spent 3 semesters out of 4 locked up in my room. Nevertheless, I have no regrets as I still had a great learning experience. Seeing the wealth of knowledge and real-life experience the faculty brought to each class helped me overcome my hesitation. Most of the professors have worked or are still working with Indian think tanks like the Centre for Policy Research or international organisations like the UN which helps brings nuance to their teaching. Their networks and past connections within the sector also prove useful to students in securing an internship or job at these respected firms,” says Shivangani while sharing about her online learning experience during the COVID19 pandemic.

Shivangani joined the programme 2 months late, but the professors ably guided her through the study material and were always available for any questions. Even though the lectures were online, the teaching was highly engaging and the learning collaborative. Group presentations in many courses helped her befriend many of my classmates who otherwise would have remained strangers in this online learning format.

“I particularly enjoyed working on presentations for the Gender and Development, and Law and Public Policy course as it required each group member to present a different angle of the issue selected in the most in-depth yet concise manner. This helped me hone my presentation and analytical communication skills required in every job. The subsequent semesters consisted of courses like Macroeconomics for Public Policy, Political Philosophy and Democratic Governance which gave us a deeper understanding of the interrelationships among individuals, government, and public policy. On the other hand, subjects like Qualitative Research Methodology, Academic Writing, Program Design and Evaluation provided us with more practical skills like conducting a survey, evaluating a programme, and writing all of this in an academic style. What I appreciated the most about MAPP is the wide array of electives we could choose from different Jindal schools. Being from a media background, I was overjoyed to pick the Media and Law elective from the law school as it helped me understand privacy and free speech issues better,” shares Shivangani.

In the fourth semester, the course expects students to pursue any one of the three options between a capstone, dissertation or two electives. Shivangani opted for a capstone as she believed it would help her gain more working knowledge in her area of interest.

“I am deeply grateful to JGU as it helped me get my preferred capstone client, Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF). IFF was a steep learning curve for me where I got to work on different digital rights issues like data protection and surveillance. By treating me like any other employee of the organisation, the leadership trusted me with their serious policy work including drafting responses to government policies, writing blog posts for their website, and speaking at external events. Working with them helped me realise that I can beautifully combine my policy and media learnings by joining the policy advocacy space. It also helped me strengthen my resume, important for securing a respected job offer,” shares Shivangani proudly.

While one of the aims of pursuing a capstone is to finally convert it into a job, Shivangani decided to not take that path and instead decided to find an opening in a consultancy or a corporate.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my Masters in Public Policy programme at 91̽�� and would recommend it to anyone interested in the field of public policy, policy making and politics,” shares Shivangani.

We wish her all the best for her future!

Just 21 years old, Ashwin has always been fascinated by the contemporary education systems being followed in India and abroad where studying is not only limited to books and classrooms but is also about real-life experiences. “I always wanted to study in a university which gives full liberty to its students to explore, experiment, and learn,” says Ashwin.

While his research for colleges began when he was in Class 10^th, Ashwin agrees that his mother played a major role in taking the decision to choose JGU. “I applied to several foreign universities but my mother always insisted on checking some Indian options. When I heard about JSLH I was amazed not only by its programmes but also the faculty members who are pioneers in their respective fields of study,” shares Ashwin excitedly.

Even after doing all online research, Ashwin believes that it was visiting the campus physically that gave him more confidence to join JGU, “My parents and I attended several open house sessions and campus tours. Each visit and event just reaffirmed my decision.”

“B.A. (Hons.) Liberal Arts programme was my top option not only because of its open curriculum that would allow me to delve into more than just classes but also provide space for me to explore other interests. With the option of diverse electives, there is no risk in taking classes outside your concentration; JGU really is supportive of a holistic education that encompasses many interests,” shares Ashwin as he talks about his journey at JSLH.

When asked ‘What makes JGU special?’, Ashwin’s answer is very clear ‘the people’ and for him, this includes not only his friends and faculty members but also the admissions staff who helped him at every step to ensure his smooth application to JGU. While Ashwin’s academic journey began at JGU in 2019, most of it went online due to the COVID19 pandemic. “What began as a 2 week off, turned into online classes for almost 2 years. Though the transition to online classes was a bit new for me, the JSLH faculty always ensured that there is no compromise in classes or their quality,” shares Ashwin while talking about his experience of attending online classes.

When Ashwin came back to campus in March 2022 it felt like the first day. A lot of things were changed- the classes, the flagpole area, and the new location of the food court. “It felt different but for good, we had so many connecting sessions that the gap of two years never felt like it existed. I participated in faculty-student cricket matches, interacted with students, and made friends for life,” says Ashwin.

While winning the ‘Best All-Rounder Award’ was a surprise for Ashwin, it was an easy choice for his teachers, not only is Ashwin good in his studies but is also actively involved in student activities – he was an elected student representative of the Committee on Gender Sensitisation Against Sexual Harassment (COGSASH) at JGU and helped create ‘Safe Spaces’ for students to share their concern and together come with solutions. While he is connected to all faculty members, two special ones are Prof. Mimi Roy and Prof. Abhijeet Banerjee who has mentored and guided him throughout. It was under Prof. Abhijeet that Ashwin worked as a Research Assistant and authored an OPED titled ‘The Burden of Marine Plastic Pollution – Who is to blame?’.

A major in Environment and Sustainability, for Ashwin ‘JSLH’, is a community – A space to freely express yourself, share ideas, get diverse perspectives and grow as a person. In his recent achievements he has also secured admission at the University College London for the MSc. in Environment, Politics, and Society programme.

We wish him luck for his upcoming journey!

My first internship was the most memorable one for me at Slam Out Loud, which is one I applied to through the Office of Career Services, JGU. Being my first internship at a professional space, I went in not knowing what to do, how to do it, and whether I would be the right person for that role. It was a role outside my comfort zone and was not in line with my future aspirations. I know now that this was a positive aspect – I would say this is my biggest achievement- knowing myself a little better and understanding that I could pick up so many skills in just three months. I got the chance to explore other areas and found something that I loved. So much so, that my first job has this internship role as part of my current role description.

All my internships post that have also helped me learn something new, both towards working in different environments and about myself- my interests and skills that I want to build. Moreover, the variety of internships that were provided through the OCS helped show me that there is so much out there, we just have to go looking for it. They also helped me understand that there are so many opportunities out there, so many things to do, and so many new things that open every so often that might be perfect for an individual.

As life always is, every internship was not free flowing and easy, there were challenges- sometimes it was my inadequacy in knowledge and other times it was meeting a set deadline with a group of people with varied progressions with the work. It did greatly affect me even on an emotional level as the thoughts of not being worth it started creeping in, however, I think it did help me grow. Being able to be in a difficult situation and figuring out how to deal with it is a skill that I built over time through these very experiences till I was able to do that with no problem. Hence, I believe, the biggest difference internships have made in my work-life is skill building. JSLH as a whole has immensely helped me develop myself, grow through the years and figure out the kind of person I want to be, and this is what I credit it for the most.