Path Ahead 2026-27
Design and Dreams 2026
On Saturday, May 9, 2026, three talented young designers shared their work and spoke about their journey of learning and practicing in their respective specialisations! Design and Dreams is an annual event that aims to bring aspiring designers of Shikshantar face to face with alumni and other designers or design students from different colleges and courses.
This year we had two alumni, Nandini Khorana, Batch of 2017 and Aishi Garg, who graduated from Shikshantar very recently in 2023. While Nandini studied Fashion Designing at Pearl Academy and at University of Creative Arts, UK, Aishi just completed her 3 rd year at NID, Ahmedabad, pursuing Film and Video Communication. Sanchita Muherjee, the third speaker, graduated from NID, in 2022 in Graphic Design.
Incidentally, both Nandini and Sanchita drew attention to the flexibility of options open to designers over the years, that their own career paths demonstrated. Nandini spoke about how she has switched to graphic design, digital marketing and illustration, as she realized that this is what she enjoys the most! Similarly, Sanchita shared her own experience of how she is confidently doing product design along with graphic design at Zomato, seizing the opportunities that came her way, and is excited about what she does every day, in spite of the work pressure and long days!
Aishi’s films left no doubt about her extraordinary story-telling skills! Her presentation focused on the many unique aspects of film making, the collaborative nature of the field, and the challenges it brings with it. Her anecdotes threw light on the multi-dimensional aptitude and skills that are required to make a film, like script writing, story boarding, cinematography to set design, costume design, sound recording, editing etc., summing it up crisply as “it takes a village to make a film!”
The select but enthusiastic audience enjoyed every minute of the session, and felt that it helped them build a lot of clarity and understanding about design courses and careers. The children were happy to connect personally with the young designers after the presentation.
Path Ahead Session: Global Academic Pathways with UCD, Ireland
On 23rd April 2026, an insightful and engaging international education session was held at Shikshantar exclusively for the students of Classes XI and XII. The session was conducted by Cliodhna Martin from University College Dublin, who brought with her extensive experience in international recruitment and admissions strategy.
The session focused on academic pathways and programme opportunities in the fields of Social Sciences and Law at University College Dublin. Ms. Martin guided students through the admissions process, programme selection, and application requirements, helping them better understand the expectations of international universities. She also shared insights into employability trends, industry expectations, and global career prospects available to graduates in today’s competitive world.
In addition, students received a detailed overview of studying in Ireland, including campus life, cultural experiences, and the various academic and personal support services available for international students. The session was highly interactive, encouraging children to ask questions and explore future study opportunities abroad.
Path Ahead Session: UK Universities
On Monday, 20th April 2026, Shikshantar students of Classes XI and XII had the unique opportunity to interact with representatives from three prestigious Russell Group universities - Imperial College London, University of Birmingham, and University of Nottingham - in a session focused on studying in the UK.
The session focused on helping students understand the UK university application process in a comprehensive manner. University representatives discussed the importance of academic consistency, super-curricular involvement, personal statements, interviews, and entrance assessments while also addressing common student queries regarding international applications and course requirements. Students were introduced to assessments such as the LSAT, ESAT, and TMUA, and were guided on how universities evaluate applicants holistically beyond academic scores alone. The speakers also highlighted the advantages of studying in the UK, including globally recognised qualifications, shorter course durations, research opportunities, and exposure to diverse academic and cultural environments. Students gained valuable insights into the importance of early preparation while exploring courses and universities best suited to their interests and aspirations.
The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer round, where students clarified doubts related to courses, career prospects, and student life in the UK. The active participation reflected the growing interest among students in exploring international academic opportunities and preparing for higher education abroad.