Tata Group announces the Tata International Social Entrepreneurship Scheme for international students
January 15, 2008

The Tata Group signs MOUs with the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Cambridge to provide opportunities for students to work on the Tata Group's community initiatives in India

The Tata Group, one of India's largest private sector conglomerates, today announced the Tata International Social Entrepreneurship Scheme (TISES) for an international student internship programme with Tata Group's community initiatives in India. The Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) each with the University of California, Berkeley, USA and the University of Cambridge, UK. The primary objective of TISES is to provide international students a chance to work in community initiative projects of the Tata Group in India and thereby promote international understanding.

The launch of the programme was jointly announced by Mr R Gopalakrishnan, executive director, Tata Sons, along with professor Alison Richard, vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge and Mr George Scharffenberger, executive director, Blum Center for Developing Economies of the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley).

As part of the Tata International Social Entrepreneurship Scheme (TISES), the University of California, Berkeley and University of Cambridge will identify up to five students each from the undergraduate or higher study level, for an 8-week summer internship at Tata Group's community initiative programmes. The MOUs signed between the Tata Group and the University of California, Berkeley and University of Cambridge stand for a period of three years.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr R Gopalakrishnan, executive director, Tata Sons, said, "The Tata Group has always been at the forefront of encouraging youth and providing them opportunities to innovate and develop leadership. TISES is an initiative to engage with students from abroad to help promote international understanding and bring in new ideas and perspectives to the existing Group community initiatives in India, as well as, provide these students unique learning opportunities."

Mr George Scharffenberger, executive director, Blum Center for Developing Economies, University of California, Berkeley, said, '"The faculty and students of UC Berkeley enthusiastically welcome the launch of the Tata Group's innovative new student internship programme focused on social entrepreneurship. The name "Berkeley" is known throughout the world not only for excellence in education and research but also for a unique record of community engagement. The latter we share with the Tata Group, laying the foundation for what will undoubtedly be a productive effort, benefiting those served by Tata's community initiatives but also reinforcing leadership skills and the appreciation of India and its people among the UC Berkeley community."

Professor Alison Richard, vice-chancellor, University of Cambridge said, "We are delighted to be partnering Tata and Berkeley in enabling outstanding students to contribute in such a practical way, working with Indian communities."