5 High Impact Things Students Can Do to Build a Strong Profile
In the last few years, universities and recruiters have become far more observant about the kind of activities students pursue outside the classroom. According to a 2023 LinkedIn Education Insights report, nearly 68% of admissions officers now prioritise real-world leadership experiences in addition to academics. This explains why so many students are exploring opportunities that offer deeper exposure to diplomacy, policy, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration. Model UNs remain valuable, but they’re just one piece of a much bigger landscape. Here are five co-curricular experiences that genuinely help students build a strong and globally relevant profile.
1. Global Start-Up Challenges like the Hult Prize
The Hult Prize, often called the world’s largest student-oriented social entrepreneurship challenge, has engaged more than 300,000 students from over 120 countries. It gives participants a chance to work on UN-aligned themes such as climate innovation, food security, and sustainable development. Students form teams, build prototypes, pitch to investors, and learn how to translate ideas into viable ventures. Whether you reach the regionals or simply experience the process, it showcases creativity, problem-solving, and the ability to work under real-world pressure.
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2. International Conferences such as the HPAIR Conference
The HPAIR Conference, backed by Harvard University, is known for bringing together young leaders, scholars, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from around the world. Each year, it hosts more than 500 participants from 40+ countries, making it one of Asia’s most diverse student-led conferences. Attending HPAIR allows students to sit in on panel discussions with global experts, exchange ideas with peers from different cultures, and understand how issues like technology, geopolitics, and sustainability intersect. It’s an experience that broadens perspective in a way classroom lectures rarely can.
3. High-Level Policy Platforms like the Raisina Dialogue
Often described as India’s answer to the Munich Security Conference, the Raisina Dialogue is one of the most influential gatherings on foreign policy and global security. Organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and ORF, it sees participation from over 100 countries each year. Students who attend get to witness real-time policy debates, hear from senior diplomats, and understand how global decisions are shaped. It’s a rare opportunity to observe diplomacy in action and develop an informed view of world affairs.
4. Youth Leadership and Social Impact Programs by UNICEF’s YuWaah
UNICEF’s YuWaah initiative focuses on empowering young people with skills for the future—entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and civic leadership. More than 10 million youth in India have interacted with YuWaah’s programs through mentorship sessions, innovation challenges, and community projects. Being part of this platform shows commitment to social change and gives students hands-on experience in building solutions for real community issues.
5. Youth Fellowships and Research Programs by Global Think Tanks
Several distinguished organisations—including the UN Foundation, Brookings Institution, Carnegie India, and the ASEAN Youth Organisation—run youth fellowships and short-term research programs. These programs allow students to work alongside policy researchers, write analytical pieces, contribute to global issues, and develop a strong foundation in research and public affairs. Such fellowships often become stepping stones to future graduate programs or international careers.
In a world that rewards initiative and global awareness, these five opportunities help students move beyond theoretical knowledge and gain real-world exposure. They build confidence, leadership, and a deeper understanding of global challenges. Most importantly, they allow students to create a profile that reflects substance—something that stands out in a competitive academic and professional landscape.