Bengaluru: Karnataka will once again launch the SCOUT (Scholars for Outstanding Undergraduate Students) programme, a fully-funded, two-week residential initiative hosted by a selected UK university. The Karnataka State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Council and six Karnataka public universities to roll out the programme.
Programme Details
Approximately 30 outstanding undergraduate students will be eligible for this opportunity. In 2024, five students were hosted by East London University, but the programme was not held in 2025. The SCOUT initiative aims to provide international exposure and academic enrichment to top-performing students.
Campus2Career Summit
The SCOUT MoU was one of six agreements signed during the Campus2Career summit held on Friday. The summit focused on bridging the gap between academia and industry, with an emphasis on employability, skill development, and career readiness. Other MoUs include training in modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, as well as provisions for internships and part-time jobs.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while inaugurating the summit, stated, “Access alone is not enough. The government’s focus is now on translating enrolment into tangible outcomes, ensuring that every student who enters higher education is prepared for employment, entrepreneurship and leadership.”
Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar invited corporates to establish centres of excellence in government colleges for the benefit of students. He also announced that five to six international universities are coming to Bengaluru, with Birkbeck, University of London, being the latest to join.
NEET and CET Counselling Update
Regarding the NEET retest scheduled for June 21, Minister Sudhakar stated that discussions are needed to decide whether to wait for NEET results before proceeding with CET counselling. Typically, CET and NEET counselling are conducted simultaneously to provide students with the best possible choices. “We have to sit and discuss, and then take a decision,” the minister said.
