In the first year -- Nitu Duggal, Niladri Banerjee and Manasa Patnam -- all raring to embark on their academic journey, won the award, which covers academic fees, international airfare, a monthly stipend to cover living expenses and a UK visa.

Shifra Menezes, caught up with the scholars to find out more about their career plans and what the scholarship means to them.

Nitu Duggal: Reaching out through teaching

Nitu, 31, learnt of the scholarship through the British Council's English Language Teachers electronic Contact Scheme (ELTeCS) newsletter as she is a member of the ELTeCS group. "I applied because my research on equipping teachers to improve reading habits of children is a relevant topic for India," says Nitu.

"Learning and teaching for me is both work and hobby," says Nitu, who sees herself as primarily working with teachers so that she can reach out many more children than she can possibly reach as a teacher.

What course are you pursuing right now?
I am currently awaiting my results for MPhil in Educational Research from the University of Cambridge.

Tell us about your academic background thus far.
Before coming to Cambridge, I completed MEd from Jamia Millia Islamia University in 2005. I have also done BEd, MA (English) and BA (hons) English. I worked in a Delhi Administration school for more than a decade where I was teaching under-privileged primary school children.

During my teaching years, my love for learning and teaching led me to attend various workshops and seminars so that I could make learning meaningful for young children entrusted to me. For example, I attended a workshop on 'How to teach, not tell' by Prof Eleanor Duckworth from Harvard University, a workshop on 'Teaching English to Young learners' by Dr Mary Lou McClosky from University of Georgia or Art workshop for teachers by the National Museum and many more.

What motivated you to apply for the scholarships?
I applied for the scholarship because my research about equipping teachers to improve children's reading is potentially very relevant for all academic learning. The topic deserves examination and my conception was that the Dr Manmohan Singh scholarship board and St John's College would share the same vision as mine. Even for pursuing a relevant topic it is essential to consider the practical constraint which was funding in my case. The funding from the scholarship will help in making the research possible.

What was your reaction when you heard you had won the scholarship?
I was glad and thankful when I heard that I have been awarded the scholarship.

What course will you pursue at the university?
I will pursue PhD in Education.

Tell us a bit about your family background.
I was born and brought up in a Punjabi family settled in Anand Niketan, New Delhi (South West Delhi). My father is Manager Issues and Securities with the State Bank of India (SBI) and my mother recently took voluntary retirement from SBI. My sister worked with American Express India as Manager Credit Quality and Process Improvement where she set up the Credit Bust Out Operations India Team. So I belong to family of accomplished finance people.

What are your career plans post the course?
Going forward I see myself as primarily working with teachers so that I can reach out to many more children than I can possibly reach as a teacher.

I am already in Cambridge and look forward to meeting my fellow winners Manasa and Niladri in Cambridge soon.

Also see: Meet India's youngest MTech from IIT Madras

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