Cummins India : Impact Assessment Report on Nurturing Brilliance Scholarship Programme

1.	Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................	5
2.	About the programme .........................................................................................................................................	6
3.	Key findings..............................................................................................................................................................	6
4.	Unique Proposition ...............................................................................................................................................	9
5.	Approach and Methodology ..........................................................................................................................	10
	5.1	Research objectives...................................................................................................................................	10
	5.2	Methodology...............................................................................................................................................	10
	5.3	Sampling .......................................................................................................................................................	11
	5.4	Research tools.............................................................................................................................................	12
6.	Profile of the respondents ...............................................................................................................................	12
	6.1	Age	..................................................................................................................................................................	12
	6.2	Gender ...........................................................................................................................................................	13
	6.3	Education ......................................................................................................................................................	13
	6.4	Family and Housing ..................................................................................................................................	14
	6.5	Income ...........................................................................................................................................................	14
7.	Efficiency Indicators ...........................................................................................................................................	15
	3.1	Concept and design of the programme ...........................................................................................	15
	3.2	Identification of institutions and students .......................................................................................	16
	3.3	Selection of students................................................................................................................................	17
	3.4	Selection of mentors ................................................................................................................................	19
	3.5	Support provided.......................................................................................................................................	20
	7.1.1	Provision of scholarship amount ................................................................................................	20
	7.1.2	Provision of laptop and on-site field.........................................................................................	20
	7.1.3	Mentorship support.........................................................................................................................	21
	3.6	Reimbursement of fee claims................................................................................................................	22
4.	Effectiveness indicators.....................................................................................................................................	23
4.1	Improved access to education ..................................................................................................................	23
Case study: Pursuing Dreams ..................................................................................................................................	24
4.2	Improved employability skills and life skills .........................................................................................	25

	5. Sustainability of the impact ........................................................................................................................	30
	5.1	Access to employment and well-being of the participants .......................................................	30
	5.2	Sustainable competencies......................................................................................................................	31
6.	Recommendations..............................................................................................................................................	31
	6.1	Ease of application process and widening reach...........................................................................	32
	6.2	Strengthening the mentorship component of the Nurturing Brilliance programme ......	32
	6.3	Fostering a network of Cummins scholars .......................................................................................	33
	6.4	Requirements shared by the scholarship recipients.....................................................................	33
	6.4.1	Provision of laptop for Diploma scholarship recipients.....................................................	33
	6.4.2		Access to internship and placement opportunities..................................................................	34
8.	Annexure ................................................................................................................................................................	35
	8.1	Assessment indicators and metrics.....................................................................................................	35
	8.2	Benchmarking of the Nurturing Brilliance Scholarship Programme ......................................	38

Table 1: Sample per location ...................................................................................................................................	11
Table 2:Year of applying ............................................................................................................................................	12
Table 3: Rating of soft skill parameters before and after the support.....................................................	30

Graph 1: Gender representation.............................................................................................................................	13
Graph 2: Status of respondents at the time of survey ...................................................................................	13
Graph 3: Availability of civil supplies card ..........................................................................................................	14
Graph 4: Monthly Household Income ..................................................................................................................	14
Graph 5: Awareness about the scholarship........................................................................................................	16
Graph 6: Year of availing scholarship for the first time .................................................................................	17
Graph 7: Supporting documents............................................................................................................................	18
Graph 8:Time taken to assign a mentor ..............................................................................................................	20
Graph 9: Whether easy to connect mentor........................................................................................................	21
Graph 10: Laptop Utility.............................................................................................................................................	23
Graph 11: Support provided by mentor ..............................................................................................................	26
Graph 12: Challenges faced in communicating before the support.........................................................	27
Graph 13: Support provided by mentor for interview preparation...........................................................	27
Graph 14: How goal setting has helped ..............................................................................................................	28

Graph 15: Corporate Etiquettes taught by Mentor .........................................................................................	29
Graph 16: Academic support by Mentor.............................................................................................................	29
Graph 17: How mentorship support become helpful ....................................................................................	30

Figure 1:	Scoring of key indicators ........................................................................................................................	25
Figure 2:	Ratings and recommendations ............................................................................................................	31

Scholarships are generally financial aids awarded to students for their education. Scholarships are awarded considering various criteria, which differ from merit to inclusion to financial needs. Some of the categories include need-based scholarships, talent-based scholarships, merit-based scholarships, sports-based scholarships, government scholarships, women-focused scholarships, location-focused scholarships, to name a few. Scholarships are critical to the growth and improvement of the educational system in order for it to be fair and just to students from all walks of life. It has a huge role in a nation's development. Scholarships operate as a catalyst in assisting students in making significant changes in their life, providing them with a sense of direction, and ultimately enabling them to become change-makers in society. There are around 25 scholarship schemes that are targeted for college-going students in India.1 scholarships are considered to reinforce confidence and motivation in students to perform better and be consistent. Scholarship impacts can go from reducing their financial burden to helping them lay a stronger educational foundation and lead a successful life.

Cummins Group in India is one of the leading manufacturers, who specialises in diesel and alternative fuel engines and generators, and related components and technology. The Cummins India Foundation (CIF) channelises Cummins' commitment towards Corporate Responsibility (CR). Under CR, Cummins focuses on Higher Education, Energy and Environment, and Equality of Opportunity as three key areas. As a mandate, under Every Employee Every Community initiative (EEEC), every employee is encouraged to dedicate a minimum of four working hours towards any of the projects under the above-mentioned areas.2

In 2006, Cummins India Foundation (CIF) initiated the 'Cummins Scholarship Program' for meritorious students from financially and socially disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue professional degree and diploma courses. At present the programme is known as "Cummins- Nurturing Brilliance scholarship".

The programme was undertaken jointly by the following entities of Cummins Group in India through the Cummins India Foundation.

• Cummins India Limited
• Cummins Technologies India Pvt. Limited
• Cummins Generator Technologies India Pvt. Limited
• Tata Cummins Pvt. Limited

The four entities hereinafter collectively would be to referred as "Cummins" throughout the report.

1. Scholarships for graduation in India
2. About Cummins India Foundation