Duke TIP In India
July 2008—In May, Duke TIP hosted a pilot program for gifted Indian students on the campus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. Thirty-four 8th-grade students were selected from 13 schools in the cities of Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore to attend the three-week, residential program, which ran from May 18–June 7, 2008. This program for Indian students was based on the Duke TIP Summer Studies model of three weeks of intensive academics complemented by a busy residential life. Duke TIP Executive Director Martha Putallaz was eager to learn how the Duke TIP Summer Studies model would translate to an international setting. “In this age, when the world is flattening at such a fast pace, new models of educating all students are imperative,” said Dr. Putallaz. “We’re excited by the prospect of using what we learn from this small pilot program to develop new types of Duke TIP programs that will allow Duke TIP students to be active players in the new and evolving world landscape.”
.jpg)
Students were nominated by local educators, and each nominated student submitted a portfolio application. Selected students were placed in one of two courses, Java for Video Games or Engineering Problem Solving, and students spent 37 hours each week in class. Outside of class, students participated in a variety of recreational activities, learning Duke TIP favorites such as ultimate frisbee and kickball. A mixture of veteran TIP summer employees and Duke students comprised the staff team in India.
When one student was asked what he would tell a friend about his TIP experience, he replied, “I’d tell the student that Duke TIP is an amazing program which increases your knowledge of challenging topics, builds your character, teaches you to be independent, gives you new skills, gives you lots of friends and memories, and an experience out of this world.”
Duke TIP is currently assessing its plans for future international programs.