Founded in 1994, the Foundation for Excellence (FFE) is a philanthropic organisation that provides financial aid, in the form of scholarships, to students of engineering, medicine, pharmacy and law. These are some of the most expensive higher education courses in India, and FFE has enabled hundreds of meritorious students from economically-constrained backgrounds to get these degrees. FFE sees itself, therefore, as a catalyst to change the futures of brilliant students whose financial conditions would have otherwise deprived them of opportunities to reach their potential.
The FFE scholarships are typically granted to economically-backward students who are among the toppers in engineering, medical, technology or law entrance exams at the national and state levels, as well as those who have already been accepted into reputed institutions in India.
In addition to financial aid, selected scholars are also provided with soft-skills training, upskilling opportunities, mentorship from FFE alumni and career counselling. It runs a three-year comprehensive skills training programme to help its scholars bridge the gap between their curriculum and industry expectations. The programme has helped improve the quality of placements that FFE scholars get after their education.
The project supported by MFE:
Sponsoring the professional Engineering and Medical education of 20 academically bright and financially deserving students in India through annual scholarship awards
In this five-year project, RGMFE will sponsor the scholarships of 20 medical and engineering students – preferably from Maharashtra – selected by FFE. Ten of the students will be those beginning their four-year engineering (BTech) courses, while the other ten will be those at the start of the five-year medicine (MBBS) course.
Under the project, RGMFE will provide each of the 20 students with Rs 40,000 per year up till the completion of their respective courses. The funds will be disbursed in the form of five yearly instalments (or four, in the case of the engineering scholars). The scholarship amount is meant to cover the students’ tuition and hostel fees as well as other academic expenses. The students aided under the project are to be called “FFE-RGMFE Scholars”.
The selection criteria for the scholarship will be restricted to their academic excellence – including their entrance exam scores – and their family income background. The criteria will not include a student’s caste, religion, community or gender. As donors, RGMFE may choose to extend financial support to additional deserving students.