Foundation For Excellence India Trust (FFEIT)

The Foundation for Excellence India Trust (FFEIT) is the Indian arm of the United States-headquartered Foundation for Excellence Inc. (FFE). It provides scholarships to economically weak, deserving students pursuing professional courses thereby impacting and transforming the lives of students through higher education support. It aims to bring about a transformation in the lives of academically bright and economically underprivileged students in India by enabling them to complete their higher education through a Scholarship Program. A scholar who completes his or her programme through FFEIT can become a member of the Trust to help other scholars in the future.

Major Activities include:

Scholarship Program: During FY 2021-22, FFE awarded scholarships amounting to Rs 46.04 crores to 10,227 students pursuing Engineering, Medicine, Law and BPharm degrees. The unique approach of combining financial assistance along with skilling (soft skills and technical), mentoring, opportunities for internships and employment sets the NGO’s scholarship apart. Students in the most remote locations in India access the online learning opportunities offered by FFE.

Skill Development and Job Readiness Program: The 4-year training program includes a curated set of skills courses, delivered through vendor partners for Engineering, BPharm, and Law students, from Year 1 to Year 4. The program begins with first-year students completing a diagnostic assessment, AMCAT (Aspiring Minds' Computer Adaptive Test) conducted by Aspiring Minds to identify specific skill gaps. In continuation of the course, trainings are provided through app-based platforms including a Baseline and Endline test along with advanced English learning programs covering the technical skills and mock interviews. Corporate partners offers additional technical and soft skills virtual training, addressing skill and knowledge gaps resulting in negligible dropout rates, record job placement and impressive salaries of the graduating Engineers.

Leadership & Mentorship Program: The FLY (Find the Leader in You) workshops are designed to teach non-cognitive skills that are of value in the personality and character development of students, revolving around 5 Pillars of a competitiveness mind set including Conscientiousness, Taking Initiative, Perseverance, Innovativeness, Problem Solving. In-house Mentoring program facilitates regular 1-1 interactions between 1000+ mentees and their mentors, offering students a window into “real world expectations and situations” through their mentors.

The “Pay Forward” model, as part of the NGO’s Circle of Giving has resulted in alumni donations supporting 9 % of scholarships awarded during FY 2021-22. Additionally, alumni have enrolled as volunteer facilitators (to qualify students for scholarships) and mentors to FFEIT scholars.