KEF Signs MoU With IIT-Bombay For Launch Of Scholarship For Girl Students

Mumbai, Aug 14, 2024: In a bid to empower promising women from underserved communities of IIT Bombay and support their academic journeys, IIT Bombay and Kotak Education Foundation (KEF) have joined forces to offer an exclusive Kotak Kanya-IIT Bombay Scholarship.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between KEF -- the CSR implementing agency of Kotak Mahindra Group -- and IIT Bombay on August 12. 
 
The scholarship program aims to empower the girl students from IIT Bombay by providing them with financial support of Rs 2.85 lakh per year till the completion of their professional graduation course/degree, enabling them to pursue their higher education without financial constraints. Beside, Financial assistance, the scholarship facilitates holistic development of the scholars through intensive student engagement and finishing school activities. 
 
Dr Ganesh Raja, CEO, Kotak Education Foundation, said, “Empowering girl children from underserved communities through education, the Kotak Kanya IIT Bombay Scholarship is a powerful, transformative, industry-leading collective for social progress. This pivotal merit-cum-means scholarship is designed to provide a comprehensive umbrella of financial aid, holistic mentorship, industry exposure, valuable career counselling and academic support, critical life skills and communication skills. A sustainable enabler of equitable, quality education, this scholarship will help students thrive, facilitate economic empowerment, drive mindset changes and foster future leaders.”

Prof Ravindra Gudi, Dean Alumni & Corporate Relations at IIT Bombay, said: “IIT Bombay is delighted to partner with Kotak Education Foundation to launch the Kotak Kanya-IIT Bombay Scholarship. Aligned with national initiatives for women empowerment such as GATI, IIT Bombay is determined to break down barriers and drive gender equality in higher education. The Kotak Kanya-IIT Bombay Scholarship is a powerful catalyst for change that will enable exceptional young women from underserved communities to claim their rightful place in STEM fields. Such scholarships support plays a crucial role in advancing gender equality by opening doors for more women to join IIT Bombay. By investing in these future leaders, we are not only fostering excellence in education but also contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society. This initiative will empower these young women to break barriers, achieve their full potential, and spark a ripple effect that will resonate far beyond their communities to help shape a better world."
 
Jayasree Ramesh, Executive Committee Member (EC) & Director of Education Programme and Scholarship, Kotak Education Foundation, said, "Today marks a watershed moment in the journey towards gender equality and scientific advancement. This partnership between Kotak Education Foundation and IIT Bombay is a testament to our collective commitment to empowering young women to be leaders and change-makers in the fields of STEM. This scholarship will support girls in breaking barriers and becoming successful professionals and role models for their families and communities. By investing in their education, we are nurturing individual potential and cultivating a brighter future for our nation.”

Kotak Kanya IIT Bombay scholarship is open for meritorious girls of IIT Bombay. Applicants must have scored 75% or more marks or equivalent CGPA in Class 12 board examinations. Applicant annual family income must be less than Rs 5,00,000. It is also open for meritorious girls who have secured admission to the first year of graduation programs in the academic year 2024-25 at IIT Bombay for the graduation degrees like BTech, BS, BDes and integrated Master’s program.

Applicants must be within top 20,000 rank in the advanced Joint Entrance Examination. 
 
The scholarship has a holistic approach towards nurturing the scholars beyond financial aid making them ready for the professional world. It provide scholars with intensive student engagement support such as mentoring sessions, life skill and mental well-being sessions in collaboration with reputed finishing school organizations to make them future ready. 

To support students in their academic journey KEF also provided the engineering and medical students with additional subscription of Unstop and Marrow respectively for additional skill development of the scholars in their respective fields.