Empowering Future Leaders: The School of Politics Launches Innovative Platform for Political Excellence!

CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Abhimanyu Bharti, Co-Founder, School Of Politics

1. Kindly brief us about the organization, its specialization, and the courses it offers.

School of Politics is an online training institute for Politics. It aims at making political education, knowledge and skills accessible. It is India’s first and only online political training institute. Founders and trainers are subject matter experts, having practical experience working in high impact elections for several years. All courses and training are implementation based learning and not mere academic.

Currently the School of Politics offers 5 different courses.

• Your First Step in Politics : 15 Hours crash course for people interested in starting off their political journey
• Art of Political Speech : 20 Hours course for training people in delivering Political speeches
• Social Media for Politics : 25 Hours course dealing with basic and advance usage of social media for Political purpose
• The art of Political Success : 75 Hours comprehensive training program for the people wanting to make big in politics
• Certification course in Political Campaign and Electoral Strategy : 125 Hours course for preparing Political Consultants and Campaign managers

2. What is the idea behind the School of Politics and how has the journey been since inception in 2020?

Having worked closely with Politics in the last 12 years, I figured that there is a huge skill gap in this domain. Most people in Politics are underskilled with respect to the position and power they acquire.  In democracy like India, politicians are key decision makers with positions, powers and finances. Competency building of the politicians and their support function will help leaders perform better, leading to benefits to the people of the country.

SOP’s journey has been overwhelming with great response and feedback to our programs from our previous and current students. Our program has been rated 4.8/5 by 1000+ people. There have been senior politicians, some ministers, OSD to Chief Ministers and many elected representatives who have joined our courses and have benefited in their political journey.

3. What is the current scenario of Political education in India

It is not mainstream yet. Like every other domain, education and training off-job play a big role, however people still think that politics can be learned only by doing. And there awaits a huge market. There are 1 million elected representatives in India and approx 3 million aspiring to be  elected. Along with this there are more than 300 million people directly associated with one or the other political party. And there lies the huge market to cater to.

4. What gives you an edge over other institutes offering political training to learners?

First and foremost, we have people who are experts of the industry and possess great experience of the domain. In India there is a dearth of such experts and even if there are , accessing their expertise and knowledge has been limited to few people. We have ensured that our curriculum is very comprehensive and well suited for the market and being online available across every geography.  Being an online political training institute also gave us an opportunity to scale faster and bigger.

5. What does the future plan look like for the School of Politics? Do you plan to establish physical infrastructure as well?

We plan to grow three dimensions.

First, to create more micro program along with comprehensive ones

Second, creating courses in vernacular languages to capture maximum markets across India

Third, going global with few flagship programs

We aim to establish physical infrastructure as well post 2024 elections.

6. What are the kinds of teachings that are being carried out at the School of Politics, give an overview?

It is the composition of recorded lectures, live sessions, guest lectures, assignments, project work, group discussions, one on one with mentors and quizzes

7. Why should learners consider this training module over other institutes, what’s in it for them that will set them apart?

Here are some key aspects that can make our training module stand out and provide a unique advantage to learners:

• Faculty Expertise : Faculty with diverse expertise and experience in various areas of politics provides learners with valuable insights, knowledge, skills and case studies
• Specialised Curriculum : Our unique curriculum offers in-depth knowledge and skills in politics that can give learners a competitive edge. Specialisation can make them experts in a niche area.
• Experiential Learning : We offer practical experiences and opportunities for fieldwork that allow learners to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. This hands-on experience can significantly enhance their employability.
• Research Opportunities : A module that encourages and supports research activities and publications helping learners build a strong skill in research portfolio
• Networking : An institute with a strong alumni network and connections to professionals in the field can provide learners with valuable networking opportunities and potential mentorship, enhancing their career prospects.
• Interdisciplinary Approach : We integrate aspects of other related disciplines such as geography, economics, sociology, or law to provide learners with a well-rounded understanding of politics and its interconnectedness with various fields.
• Technology and Innovation : We incorporate modern technology, innovative teaching methods, and digital tools to enhance learning and research can prepare learners for evolving trends and advancements in the political field.
• Professional Development Opportunities : We offer workshops, seminars, conferences, and ongoing professional development opportunities to help learners stay updated with the latest trends, network with professionals, and enhance their skills throughout their careers.

8. What is your vision for the future of political education , and how do you see your organization contributing to it?

Political education should be one of the most essential areas for democracy and country. My vision is to develop the knowledge and competency of different three levels of the Political ecosystem.

Firstly the citizens –  aware and informed citizens’ vote can impact the policies and working of government.

Secondly, the support functions of politics and politicians – the more competent and efficient they are the more competent will be the politicians and decision makers

Thirdly, politicians – Building skills they lack, it will create more politicians from non political background and that will make India truly democratic