Yale looks for world leaders from India

New Delhi, Apr 14 (UNI) Yale University, the alma mater of four of the last six US presidents, wants the future Indian leaders to be from its campus.

Mid-career professionals in business and government from India could head for the Yale World Fellows Programme, an ideal training ground for future world leaders.

In its fourth year, the 17-week leadership programme has already seen a Philippine Congressman, who attended the course getting elected as the Vice- President of his party. A Canadian army officer from the programme is now a Brigadier General in charge of strategic planning for his country's army. Another Yale World Fellow, a member of Ugandan Parliament, is now contesting for the presidential post.

Aimed at developing a global network of emerging leaders and broadening international understanding, the programme brings 18 highly accomplished men and women from a diverse set of countries around the world to the university every year.

''The World Fellows have exceptional records of achievement and a proven capacity for leadership,'' says programme director Daniel Esty, a professor of environmental law and policy at Yale.

''Building on their access to Yale faculty, alumni, visitors and students, these World Fellows will be prepared for even greater roles of leadership when they return home,'' he adds.

The names of the candidates qualified for this year's programme is to be anounced in the coming days.

Selected from outside the US, World Fellows come from a range of fields and disciplines, including government, business, media, non-governmental organisations, military, religion and the arts.

The 2005 World Fellows included the vice-president of a leading South Korean conglomerate, the chief of staff for the President of Lithuania, the Philippine Secretary of Energy, the director of Israel's first legal advocacy group for Arab minority rights and the former Minister of Trade of Panama.

The course is held from September to December during which the candidates take part in a specially designed World Fellows Seminar taught by some of Yale's most distinguished faculty and are able to take any of the 3,000 courses offered at Yale.

They have access to US government officials, business leaders and other American and foreign leaders. Past candidates have met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and UN Millennium Project Director Jeffrey Sachs.

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