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Understand Economies, Decode Markets, and Make Smarter Financial Decisions
The Ashoka Young Scholars Programme (YSP) Chennai Learning Sprint 2026 introduces Markets, Risks & Rewards, a certified, intensive, city based, accelerated and experiential learning programme in Economics & Finance for high schoolers entering grades 9-12. Guided by accomplished academicians and seasoned practitioners, this hands-on journey takes learners from theory to practice through masterclasses on how economies and financial markets shape each other, and interactive workshops on economic drivers behind it, the nuances of stock picking, investment portfolio drafting, and financial decision-making. Students also gain valuable exposure through direct interaction with industry speakers, learning from real-world insights and on-ground experiences.
The programme brings together Ashoka University’s globally renowned faculty and trailblazing industry leaders, offering a distinctive blend of academic rigour and real-world market insight. Their perspectives encourage students to think boldly, take informed risks, and build the mindset, confidence, and curiosity needed for both today and the future. Students will learn from world-class faculty such as:
Professor Prachi Mishra is Professor of Economics and Director and Head of the Isaac Centre for Public Policy at Ashoka University. Previously, she held senior roles at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including Chief of the Systemic Issues Division, and served as Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and Specialist Adviser and Head of the Strategic Research Unit at the Reserve Bank of India. She has also worked with the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance and on the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.
Ms. Deepali Singh is Visiting Faculty in the Department of Entrepreneurship at Ashoka University and Founder and CEO of The WallstreetWiz. An MBA from the Wharton School, she has worked at Credit Suisse and as a credit rating analyst with JP Morgan and Standard & Poor’s, with experience spanning investment banking, valuation, and financial modelling. She also teaches corporate finance at leading financial institutions globally.
Mr. Vijay Singh Chauhan is Senior Fellow at the Isaac Centre for Public Policy at Ashoka University and an International Consultant with the Asian Development Bank. A former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, he has held key positions in the Government of India, including Director (Budget), Director (FIPB), Director (FM Office) and Advisor to the Expenditure Management Commission. He also served as Executive Director at Deloitte India, and continues to work on trade, logistics, and public policy across South Asia.
What You Will Explore
The programme delves into the key areas of:
Built on a dynamic learning model that bridges abstract concepts with real-world impact, the programme emphasises three core pillars. Through Analytical Logic, participants will learn to decode economic indicators and market instruments, uncovering the risks and rewards strategies around them. Through Collaborative Strategy, they will work in teams to debate perspectives, challenge assumptions, and arrive at a consensus on building portfolios and evaluating economic scenarios. Ultimately, the programme will enable students to move toward Applied Action, taking the first step towards making critical and well-informed economic and financial decisions beyond the classroom.
From Economic Insight to Confident Decision-Making
How do economies grow and what causes them to falter? How does one logically weigh risks against potential rewards? What does it take to navigate and grow wealth amidst market uncertainty? How does the financial system channel and allocate capital across the economy?
The programme is designed to help students explore these questions and more, while initiating their journey towards becoming insightful investors and perceptive economic thinkers. It equips high school students with robust decision-making frameworks and financial acumen to begin navigating economic and financial uncertainty with confidence.
Combining a rigorous learning experience that includes immersive hands-on workshops, the programme brings together the following:
Hands-on projects at YSP Chennai Learning Sprint
Analyse global economies, understand the economic drivers of the financial markets, design resilient portfolios, and create impactful strategies that withstand market shocks!
Students actively apply their learning through a series of collaborative exercises designed around real-world economic and financial scenarios. Participants will:
These hands-on sessions help students experience how economic reasoning and financial analysis translate into strategic investment decision-making.
Career Pathways
A rigorous foundation in Economics and Finance gives students a competitive edge in the most critical decision-making fields of the future. This programme prepares students with foundational knowledge, applied experience, and a decision-making mindset to navigate complex and uncertain market environments.
Applications are NOW OPEN! Application Deadline: May 10, 2026
Apply NowStay tuned for updates on the upcoming cycle, follow us on social media and check our website for announcements.
Follow us on LinkedIn | Instagram for updates on all things YSP Learning Sprint 2026. Download the Programme Flyer.
KNOWLEDGE
SKILLS
ATTITUDE
APPLICATIONS
Faculty sessions in the Markets, Risks & Rewards programme introduce students to the core principles connecting economic fundamentals, financial markets, and investment decisions. These sessions are complemented by immersive, hands-on workshops that move students from theory to application. Participants begin by examining the characteristics of strong and weak economies and analysing the economic drivers that influence financial markets. They then explore financial instruments, asset classes, and the principles behind portfolio construction and risk-reward trade-offs. The industry speaker session gives students a chance to explore international risks to the Indian economy and how experts make sense of these.
Through collaborative team exercises, students analyse real-world market scenarios, evaluate stocks and portfolios, and refine their investment strategies. The programme culminates in team portfolio presentations to an expert panel, where students defend their investment thesis using economic reasoning and financial analysis.
An indicative sample, to be refined based on faculty/ speaker availability & final curriculum, is given below.
SAMPLE SCHEDULEI will remember YSP not for one thing but for everything. There is nothing that I will forget from this very good experience and opportunity. I will always remember the friends, the classes, the lectures… and everything about the YSP experience.
YSP has really helped me figure out where I want to go in my career and taught me not to limit my options. Many of the professors, while experienced in one field, are also incredibly well-read in others. That has inspired me to think more interdisciplinarily than I did before.
YSP has been a memorable experience. Last year, I became interested in getting into an Ivy League university and discovered summer school programs. I applied to several and chose YSP because I thought it would be good – but it’s way better than my expectations and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve even made a lot of friends even though I’m usually shy and don’t talk to anyone easily – but I’ve started to socialize here a lot. YSP has made me learn how to make great contacts, how to make good friends easily, so I am not that introvert or shy person like I was before.
I am on cloud nine at YSP – it’s really fun making new friends and attending sessions that show you what college life will be like. Speaking on the mic in front of so many people has given me a lot of confidence. Overall, it’s been a great experience here.
