Odyssey Fellowship Prospectus

Where the world of work meets the world of school

Fellowship Prospectus

2024

Our Mission Think about this: we spend 80,000 hours of our life working. That is - 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year, for 40 long years. For most of us, our work isn't about the monthly paycheck; it's the compass of our lives.

Yet, research shows that 85% people are not engaged or are actively disengaged at the workplace; 85% people don’t look forward to going to work everyday. Research also shows that people who have a strong “interest-fit” with their profession thrive in their careers and lives. People who find their purpose lead happier and more successful lives.

Then, why is it that we don’t spend enough time exploring what our real interests are? Studies done in multiple countries show that middle school presents the best opportunity for career exploration. Proactively exploring the world of work in a hands-on way broadens students’ horizons to the possibilities that may be of interest to them. And that’s why we’ve created Odyssey - a year-long fellowship designed to help middle schoolers explore the world of work. Odyssey takes middle schoolers on an exploration of future-ready careers while helping them discover their unique strengths and passions and building critical interdisciplinary skills.

Odyssey helped me see a connection between what we are doing at school and the real world.

Avana Mubayi Grade 8, Pathways School, Gurgaon

The Odyssey Experience The Odyssey Fellowship is designed as a structured, year-long learning journey for middle schoolers, providing them with practical exposure to the world of work.

Explore four future-ready careers Fellows dive into four career domains: design, business, and two chosen fields from healthcare, software & AI, engineering, or law & policy. Each 8-week module involves real projects, industry interaction, and expert coaching.

Learn from industry leaders Participants connect with global industry leaders, absorbing real-world insights and inspiring stories. These encounters foster deep learning and memorable "aha" moments that resonate beyond the program.

Get one-on-one coaching Each fellow is matched with an experienced coach, ensuring personalized guidance throughout the fellowship. Coaches provide strategic feedback and reflection opportunities, enhancing the learning process.

Solve real-world problems During each career exploration, fellows work in teams to solve real problem statements from the companies they admire. They choose their projects basis their common interest areas and present their solutions to an audience of industry mentors and parents.

Go behind the scenes at iconic companies During the summer, fellows participate in a week-long immersive experience in Bengaluru. They visit top companies, engage in expert-led workshops, and build connections through shared experiences.

Fellowship outcomes The Odyssey Fellowship prepares students for academic and career challenges, providing impactful, tangible outcomes. Here are the key achievements each fellow gains:

Create your personal brand & website Fellows compile a personal portfolio showcasing their projects and achievements during the fellowship. This portfolio includes a certificate of completion, serving as a lasting testament to their skills and experiences.

Build transferable skills Through a structured skills rubric, fellows enhance key professional and life skills, highlighting their capabilities in critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership.

Collect your micro-certifications & rewards Each fellow receives micro-certificates for excellent project work and a main certificate at the end of the fellowship, formally recognising their overall achievements.

Receive recommendation letters Industry experts provide personalized recommendation letters that endorse the fellows' achievements, supporting their future academic and career opportunities.

Develop a personalized roadmap Fellows are guided to create a Personalised Roadmap, outlining potential career paths and setting milestones based on their unique interests and strengths.

Together, these elements form a powerful toolkit, equipping them with not just knowledge and skills, but with concrete evidence of their accomplishments and a clear vision for their future.

Parent feedback These students have not only grasped the concepts but have also dived deep into them, presenting their work with a depth that exceeded my expectations. A lot of credit goes to Odyssey for facilitating such high-quality engagement.

Sanjay Suri Former CTO, Nykaa

Odyssey has added another dimension to my son's education. To him it is a beautiful journey of exploration. He enrolled at his own will and is thoroughly enjoying it.

Students have discovered new aspects about themselves. It's been a great self-discovery journey. Their listening skills have improved much more than at school. You guys really speak their language and connect so well.

Kaashik Bansal

Shivali Nair

Founder, The Nest

Senior Vice President, Ogilvy & Mather

Samarth has been able to use what he has learnt at Odyssey to ace his design project in school. He has picked up Figma from his Odyssey project & used it to design the website for his school portfolio.

Pankhuri Jiwarajka Co Founder and CMO, Kirana247

Our Teaching Team Our teaching team brings a rich diversity of experience across domains which ensures that our fellows have a learning journey to remember.

Business & Entrepreneurship

Sarthak Ahuja

Siddharth Menon

Shreyasi Singh

CA, LinkedIn Influencer, Gold Medalist, ISB

Ex-Chief Marketing Officer, Epigamia

Founder & CEO, Harappa Education

Laura McBain

Parameswaran Venkataraman

Sandeep Karmarkar

Design

MD, Hasso Plattner Institute, Stanford D School

Ex-Director, IDEO

Design Leader, Uber

Engineering

Aravind Prasad

Dr. Ed Rogers

Sid Dhodhi

Head - Charging Infrastructure Business, Aether

ex-Chief Knowledge Officer, NASA

GPU Hardware Lead, Nvidia

Dr Manu Chaudhary

Professor Ranjit Akolekar

Sanath Kumar P B.

Healthcare

Consultant, Infectious Diseases and Pediatrics

Clinical Lead for Foetal Medicine

Partner - SEA Healthcare Lead, Kearney

Law & Policy

Roshni Shanker

Seema Chowdhry

Kazim Rizvi

Founder, Migration & Asylum Project and Former Associate RSD Officer, UNHCR

Chief Learning Officer

Founder, The Dialogue and CoFounder, DeepStrat

Nikhil Narayan

Rahul Goyal

Dr. Rohini Srivathsa

Software & AI

Ex-Principal Research Scientist, Sony Research India

Ex-VP Engineering, VMware

CTO, Microsoft India &

South Asia

Continuous 1:1 Coaching Each Odyssey Fellow receives personalised guidance and mentoring from our dedicated coaches. Odyssey coaches are seasoned educators with industry experience, putting them in a unique position to scaffold and guide learning.

Meet Our Coaches

Nikhil Gumbhir

Shivani Gandhi

Co-Founder at Odyssey

Career Coach at Odyssey

Ex-COO at Harappa, where he designed learning experiences for brands like Apple and Disney

Course Director across companies in the Middle East & US

Coached students who are pursuing careers at SpaceX, Google and Nvidia

Masters in Education & Innovation

Our coaches meet with fellows on a regular basis and follow a structured coaching framework to make sure that every student is progressing on their journey.

Goal setting Coaches work 1:1 with fellows to help them define clear goals and the steps towards achieving those goals

Accountability and Progress Regular check-ins and discussions

help students stay on track and motivated throughout the fellowship journey

Personal Growth Coaches provide fellows with 1:1 guidance to help them handle setbacks and uncertainties, so they can develop self-awareness and resilience

Hands-on Career Explorations Odyssey fellows dive into different career domains through 8-week-long experiential learning journeys. Each journey is meticulously crafted to help students build foundational skills through hands-on projects and interactions with industry experts.

Choose your path and dive into four different career domains from:

Business and

Entrepreneurship

Design

Engineering

Healthcare

Law and Policy

Software and AI

How does a typical career exploration work?

Studio Sessions

Interactive sessions focusing on career-specific skills and projects.

Engaging seminars with industry experts to deepen understanding of

Masterjam Sessions

each career domain.

Regular meetings with coaches to discuss progress, set goals, and receive

Coach Check-Ins

tailored advice.

Students present their projects to an audience, demonstrating their

Showcases

learning and achievements.

Structured reflection sessions to contemplate experiences, learnings, and

Reflections

future aspirations.

Career domain

Business & Entrepreneurship

Why Business & Entrepreneurship?

Business and entrepreneurship lie at the heart of economic growth and innovation. They not only create jobs but also foster societal changes by introducing new products and services that challenge the status quo. With global venture capital investment reaching nearly $300 billion in recent years, the entrepreneurial landscape continues to thrive, driving advancements in technology, sustainability, and consumer experience.

How will fellows explore the world of Business & Entrepreneurship?

Fellows will undertake the process of ideating, developing, and pitching a business idea. They'll simulate the entrepreneurial journey from concept to market, including market analysis, financial planning, and pitching to the investors.

Focus skills Strategic Thinking

Market Analysis

Financial Planning

Sales & Branding

Leadership

Projects E-commerce launch for products from a local non-profit organisation

Roof-top solar installation service for a global energy major

Made in India toys manufacturer for the US market

Experts Sarthak Ahuja

Shreyasi Singh

Siddharth Menon

CA, LinkedIn Influencer, Gold Medalist, ISB

Founder & CEO, Harappa Education

Ex-Chief Marketing Officer, Epigamia

Career domain

Design

Why Design?

Design isn't just about aesthetics; it's the pulse of user experience and innovation. From intricate microchips to one-click shopping apps, design is omnipresent. With the global design services market expected to grow at 10% CAGR over the next 5 years, it's clear that design is shaping our world like never before.

How will fellows explore the world of design?

Fellows will follow the human centred design process to create a website for their chosen project. They will use Figma to design their creations and present their work to an audience of experts and parents at the end of the design simulation.

Focus skills Empathy

User Research

Ideation

Prototyping

Refining

Designing on Figma

Projects India launch for a global EV manufacturer

Subscription service for teenager for a

leading bike hailing platform

Health tracker for pets by a global sports brand

Experts Laura McBain

MD, Hasso Plattner Institute, Stanford D School

Parameswaran Venkataraman Ex-Director, IDEO

Sandeep Karmarkar Design Leader, Uber

Career domain

Engineering

Why Engineering?

From the development of clean energy solutions to the construction of smart cities, engineers are pivotal in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. The global push towards sustainable development and smarter infrastructure has led to a projected increase in engineering jobs by 20% over the next decade, highlighting the growing need for innovative problem solvers in this field.

How will fellows explore the world of Engineering?

Fellows will discover the world of Engineering through the lens of sustainability & clean technology. They will learn to calculate carbon footprint of their actions and engineer solutions to reduce it. They will present the the technical design & solution in the final showcase.

Focus skills Critical Thinking

Innovation

Problem Solving

Technical Drawing

Prototyping

Projects Green audit for public infrastructure in your city

Smart water filter prototype to recycle kitchen discharge

Alternate home cooling system to replace Air Conditioners

Experts Aravind Prasad

Dr. Ed Rogers

Sid Dhodhi

Head - Charging Infrastructure Business, Aether

Ex-Chief Knowledge Officer, NASA

GPU Hardware Lead, Nvidia

Career domain

Healthcare

Why Healthcare?

As populations age and new challenges such as global pandemics emerge, the importance of healthcare innovation becomes more apparent. The sector, expected to reach over $10 trillion, is at the forefront of integrating advanced technologies such as genomics and AI to revolutionize patient care.

How will fellows explore the world of Healthcare?

Fellows will learn how the patient-centric healthcare from disease prevention, diagnosis to treatment.

Fellows will explore case studies from global pharmaceutical and healthcare players. They will work with industry experts to design public health campaigns, develop tele-medicine solutions, or research new treatments.

Focus skills Personal Medicine

Healthcare Systems

Patient Care

Clinical Research

Projects Dengue eradication plan/ campaign for your city

Study impact of increased screen time on young children

Mental healthcare mobile application for young students

Experts Dr Manu Chaudhary

Sanath Kumar P B.

Consultant, Infectious Diseases and Pediatrics

Partner - SEA Healthcare Lead, Kearney

Professor Ranjit Akolekar Clinical Lead for Foetal Medicine

Career domain

Law and Policy

Why Law and Policy?

Law and policy form the backbone of societal governance, influencing every aspect of personal and public life. These fields ensure justice, maintain order, and regulate the complex interactions within societies. With the rise of global issues such as digital privacy, environmental conservation, and international trade agreements, the demand for robust legal frameworks and policies is more crucial than ever.

How will fellows explore the world of Law and Policy?

Fellows will learn through case discussion on themes like landmark legal decisions, global trade negotiations and key public reforms. Fellows will draft legislations/ policy documents and participate in mock-trials.

Focus skills Legal Analysis

Ethical Reasoning

Public Policy

Critical Thinking

Projects White paper on the impact of polar ice cap melting on global trade routes

Critical analysis of India’s new National Education Policy (NEP)

Environment impact assessment report for an upcoming dam

Experts Roshni Shanker

Seema Chowdhry

Kazim Rizvi

Founder, Migration & Asylum Project and Former Associate RSD Officer, UNHCR

Chief Learning Officer

Founder, The Dialogue and CoFounder, DeepStrat

Career domain

Software & AI

Why Software & AI? In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, Software and AI stand out as primary drivers of change, influencing everything from how we manage daily tasks to complex decision-making processes. The AI market alone is projected to exceed $500 billion by 2024, underscoring its critical role in the future of tech.

How will fellows explore the world of Software & AI? Fellows will dive into the world of software & AI learning how to transform data into meaningful insights. They will unravel the mysteries of neural networks and deep learning, the lifeblood of AI. At the end of the simulation, they will create their personalised AI model and launch an interactive chatbot.

Focus skills System Design

Problem-solving

Machine Learning

Data Modelling

Projects AI chatbot to help with student homework and revision

AI based home fitness trainer based on

computer vision

AI co-pilot for your online shopping needs

Experts Nikhil Narayan

Rahul Goyal

Dr. Rohini Srivathsa

Ex-Principal Research Scientist, Sony Research India

Ex-VP Engineering, VMware

CTO, Microsoft India &

South Asia

Our students' work Discover how Odyssey fellows apply their learning through dynamic, real-world projects that showcase their creativity, problem-solving skills, and technical expertise:

Build the next big feature on the Swiggy app 12:30 Swiggy presents

Swiggy Fitclub

Students conducted user interviews, gained insights into

Frequently asked questions about FitClub

consumer preferences, and conducted brainstorming

Health

sessions. They developed detailed user personas, crafted wireframes, and created interactive prototypes

What is fitclub?

What Would You Like To Do? PERSONALISED

TAILORED TO YOUR HEALTH GOALS Learn

P 45

INCENTIVES

REWARDS FOR STAYING FIT

Order for Health

G T . AI

Customized

using Figma.

Order exclusive and

videos to

delicious dishes!

teach you about your

Skills:

food!

DIET PLANNING

NUTRITIONAL INFO & MORE

CHALLENGES

LEADERBOARDS, CONTESTS & PRIZES

Compete with friends Calculate nutrition AI Meal Plans!

Stick to your diet plan with AI food

Empathy

User Research

Ideation

Problem Solving

plans delivered to your doorstep

Prototyping

AND MUCH MORE Checkout

Get started Swiggy

Food

Instamart

FitClub

Account

This project was designed by team Wayfarer Intellectuals (Armaan, Arnav, and Darsh) and won the Design Discovery Award at the Showcase.

Present sustainability solutions for IIM Ahmedabad Leveraging collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad's administrative staff, students developed a sustainability action plan focused on energy conservation, waste management, and sustainable infrastructure.

Skills: Collaboration

Strategic Planning

Sustainability Practices

Public Speaking

This sustainability audit was performed by team Green Beans (Hrishita, Gauri, and Vivek).

Our students' work Discover how Odyssey fellows apply their learning through dynamic, real-world projects that showcase their creativity, problem-solving skills, and technical expertise:

Create an investment portfolio to fund your college experience Students tackled the practical challenge of planning for the future by creating their own college fund investment strategy. They researched various investment options, analyzed risk factors, and used financial planning tools to maximize potential returns.

Skills: Financial Literacy

Strategic Planning

Risk Analysis

Decision-making

This annual college budget plan is developed by Agastya from team Multideators.

Help a local business improve its operations In partnership with Buttercup – a local bakery, students optimized operations by enhancing ingredient usage and improving energy efficiency. They designed solutions to reuse leftover ingredients and installed motion sensors to reduce electricity costs.

Skills: Problem-solving

Innovation

Operational Efficiency

Technical Application

This initiative was undertaken by team Prometheus (Aarav, Shivam, and Devdath).

A transformative week

at our Bengaluru Basecamp During the summer break of 2025, our fellows will unite for a week of unparalleled learning in Bengaluru.

They will visit leading companies and learn from industry experts, all while bonding through shared living experiences.

The agenda for our basecamp is a thoughtfully designed mix of hands-on learning, fun activities, group projects, and opportunities to collaborate with experts. Our basecamp has three distinctive features:

Company Visits Fellows will embark on 4 extensive day-long journeys to leading companies. They will witness firsthand companies’ organisational structures and delve into the daily challenges they tackle. These visits will offer our fellows a doorway into the world of corporate operations.

Expert Workshops Students will join sessions led by industry leaders. They’ll explore topics from the science behind their favourite games to how to build a cattle trading app for rural India, connecting classroom knowledge to real-world situations.

Shared Living Experience Students will live and work together, fostering friendships and teamwork. Evenings will be packed with fun activities, group projects, and opportunities to learn from each other and mentors.

Fellowship

Schedule The second cohort of the Odyssey fellowship will run for a period of 40 weeks from September ’24 to August ’25. The graphic below summarises what fellows will be doing at different points in time through the year.

September

Onboarding

October - November

World of Design

December - January

Break

February - March

Choose between Software & AI and Engineering

April - May

Choose between Healthcare and Law & Policy

June

Basecamp

July

Break

August - September

Business & Entrepreneurship

September

End of Fellowship + Way Forward

Admission Process

Who should apply?

We believe that Odyssey will be a great fit for students of ages 13-16. Students from Grades 7, 8, 9 have joined us for the fellowship in past editions.

What are we looking for?

Curiosity

Grit

Discipline & Commitment

We love interacting with young minds who are always willing to question and explore

We seek adventurers who relish challenges and push boundaries

Most importantly, we value a strong work ethic over everything else

How to apply?

We have a two step application process.

Step 01 Fill the application form. It takes less than 30 mins to complete it.

Be your authentic self and do not overthink your responses.

Step 02 nce we review your responses in the application, you will receive a call for a personal interview with our admissions team.

O

isit odyssey.club/apply to start your application process. In case you have any questions, please reach out

V

to us at admissions@odyssey.school.

pplication Deadline

A

ast date for application submission is 30th August, 2024. Personal interviews for applicants will be

L

conducted on a rolling basis so the earlier you apply, the higher your chances of getting in.

Fellowship Details & Fee

Fellowship Start Date

Fellowship Duration

Time Commitment

15th September, 2024

40 weeks over 12

2-3 hours per week

months

Mode of Learning Live Online + In-person in Bengaluru, India for the Basecamp

Fee Structure The fee structure for the Odyssey Fellowship is as follows:

Fellowship fee

Basecamp fee

$2500

$1500

Note: Fee mentioned is exclusive of taxes The fellowship fee can be paid in 4 installments.

Basecamp fee includes accommodation, meals & local transport. Flights to and fro Bengaluru are not included.

Financial Aid We believe that finances should not hinder a deserving student's path to success. After completing the application form, students can apply for financial aid by writing an additional essay and submitting relevant financial documents. Our admission process is need-blind i.e. students applying for financial aid will in no way jeopardise their chances of admission. For further queries regarding financial aid, please write to us at admissions@odyssey.school

Students

Odyssey

Read firsthand how our students have been transformed by their unique experiences in the Odyssey fellowship, discovering new passions and gaining invaluable insights.

Odyssey has made me more

The fellowship has been an

open to feedback and ideas

eye opening experience for

from others. I know why

me. At first I thought,

working well in a team is so

Design is about aesthetics

important.

and arts, now I know it’s so much more.

Shivaan Patwa Grade 7, Oberoi International School, Mumbai

Alya Chandhok Grade 8, Heritage International Xperiential School, Gurgaon

Hearing first hand from Pramath about his journey starting from his childhood, including his failures, was such a profound learning experience.

Aisha Chaddha Grade 8, Pathways School, Gurgaon

After participating in the design programme at Odyssey, I am now considering pursuing it during my undergraduate studies. It’s incredibly enriching to work with like-minded peers who bring diverse perspectives from cities across India.

P

urvi Kaasam

8th Grade, Sreenidhi International School, Hyderabad

Odyssey (n) A journey marked by adventure, exploration, and personal growth.

(v) To embark on a transformative path, discovering one's passion and purpose.

www.odyssey.school | 590, 12th Main Rd, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038, India