SHAPERS 2.0: A Transformative Summer School Experience

A Diverse Cohort of Young Innovators

The programme welcomed a remarkably diverse group of students aged 12-22 years (average age 14.8), representing eight states across India including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. These 64 students came from 40+ prestigious institutions including Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Reliance Foundation Schools, Delhi Public School branches, CPS Global School Hyderabad, The Sanskaar Valley School Bhopal, and Jayshree Periwal School Jaipur, representing 10 educational boards, ranging from CBSE and ICSE to IB and A Levels.

Five Days of Immersive Learning

Day 1: AI and Digital Transformation 

The programme launched with an energetic ice-breaking session led by Mr. Srikanth Vadapalli, Head of Capability Development, followed by Dr. Shailesh Kumar, Dean, delivering an immersive session on "Dive into the World of AI & Digital Transformation." Students explored cutting-edge artificial intelligence applications in healthcare, mobility, education, and sustainability, setting the foundation for innovative thinking.

Day 2: Marketing Innovation and Product Development

Dr. Vishnu Prasad, Assistant Professor, guided students through Marketing Fundamentals, covering the essential 4Ps framework. Teams of students collaborated on original product concepts in ed-tech, climate-tech, and health-tech domains, developing prototypes and branding strategies. The day concluded with a wellness-focused Zumba session led by Mr. Vishal Raghuvir Sadevra.

Day 3: The AI Challenge and Industry Exposure 

The highlight was the "Prompt to Product" AI challenge facilitated by Dr. Kalyan Tadepalli, Student Mentor, AI & DS Programme, where students created AI-driven solutions for real-world problems. The afternoon featured an industrial visit to Reliance Corporate Park, where students toured 5G innovation centers, witnessed K9 AI demonstrations, and interacted with experts in telecom, robotics, and automation.

Day 4: Entrepreneurship and Sustainability 

Students participated in a Startup Pitch Workshop jointly led by Dr. Vishnu Prasad and Dr. Kalyan Tadepalli, developing business models and elevator pitches. Dr. Dawood Vaid, Director of Golden Sparrow, connected student projects to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through engaging case discussions. The evening featured an Art & Craft workshop by Ms. Kasturi Borkotoki, Diversity & Inclusion Lead, RIL, followed by a vibrant Talent Show featuring scintillating expressions of visual arts from the high-school students.

Day 5: Future Careers and Celebration 

The final day began with Dr. Pratibha Nair's session on New Age Careers, exploring fields like ethical hacking, neuropsychology, and AI ethics. Mr. Nimish Raut, Global Business Leader in Esports, delivered a masterclass on eSports & Video Gaming, covering content creation, team management, and streaming economics.

Recognizing Excellence

The programme culminated with the AI Challenge awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding innovation in the ‘Prompt to Product’ hackathon challenge:

• First Place: Group 4 (Ved Patel, Pragun Tiwari, Shaurya Shah, Yuvraj Rathod, Aahana Shroff)
• Second Place: Group 12 (Varij Suraj Gedam, Vivaan Varshney, Shaarav Shendye, Shaurya Kasat, Shivansh Sharma, Vivaan Bantwal, Kushagra Chansoria)
• Third Place: Group 11 (Ishani Rangnekar, Dhruv Bhatia, Jai Kaushik, Shrinivas Raut, Nandini Pawar)
• Special Audience Recognition: Group 1 (Ananth Srinath, Shanika Shah, Akanksha Upadhyay, Falak Golwala, Vaishnavi Singh)

Impact and Transformation

SHAPERS 2.0 successfully combined academic rigor with experiential learning, providing students with exposure to emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and future career pathways. The programme's multidisciplinary approach, featuring expert faculty from the Institute and industry professionals, created an environment where young minds could explore, innovate, and grow.

Dr. Kalyan Tadepalli, representing the faculty at the closing ceremony, praised the students' "fearless creativity, collaborative spirit, and personal growth" throughout the transformative week. As students departed with their course completion certificates, they carried with them renewed confidence, lasting friendships, and a clear vision for their future contributions to society.

The success of SHAPERS 2.0 reinforces Jio Institute's commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders equipped with both technical expertise and ethical grounding to address tomorrow's challenges.