The Maker Fellowship

A transformative program for recent engineering graduates to foster STEM education and build a culture of making.

The Maker Fellowship is a unique 12-month opportunity for a select cohort of 14 recent, multi-disciplinary engineering graduates to lead a real-world social impact project. As a Maker Fellow, you'll be mapped to a district in Kerala and given full ownership to co-design and execute a district-wide initiative to build the future of education.

This is a collaborative initiative by Samagra Shiksha Kerala and the Kerala Startup Mission, supported by the World Bank-aided STARS scheme. Our mission is to design, execute, and scale-up Centres for Early Innovation across Kerala, and you will be at the very center of it.

It's hands-on, high-responsibility work. You'll juggle schools, labs, logistics, and learning. But if you're curious, committed, and excited to work where real change happens — we think you'll thrive here.

What They Do 📝

As a Maker Fellow, you'll move beyond theory and gain practical, high-impact experience. You will:

Build and Manage Innovation Labs: Learn to design, set up, manage, and operate cutting-edge Maker Labs in schools.
Develop Your Technical Portfolio: Work on hands-on projects using digital fabrication tools like 3D printing, electronics, and robotics.
Empower Educators: Train and support teachers, helping them integrate tinkering and digital tools into their classrooms.
Lead Student Programs: Spearhead district and state-level student innovation programs like TinkerFests.
Network with Leaders: Work with the Fab Community and connect with influential educators, innovators, and policymakers.

The 12-Month Learning Journey 🗓️

The fellowship isn't just a role — it's a structured, immersive journey designed to build your capabilities across Technology, Program Management, and Leadership.

🛠️ Phase 1: Foundation & Immersion

You'll begin with intensive, hands-on training at Super Fab Lab Kochi. You will get in-depth training in design thinking, 3D printing, embedded programming, and product design. You'll work directly in schools to understand the real-world classroom environment and co-lead your first workshops.

🚀 Phase 2: Co-Creation & Implementation

You will step up to lead. You'll design and pilot your own curriculum-aligned STEM modules, develop mini-challenges for students, and build student clubs. A key highlight will be organizing district and state-level TinkerFests, bringing innovation to life for hundreds of students.

🌱 Phase 3: Impact & Scale

Your focus will shift to creating lasting change. You'll train teachers, mentor students, and lead public showcases. In this final phase, you’ll learn to track and measure your impact, document student innovations, and create toolkits that help scale the program and influence educational policy across Kerala.

The journey is iterative and the three ‘Phases’ overlap and get iterated in the 12 months of fellowship duration.

Shape the Future of Education ✨

This journey will be demanding and it will challenge you, but it will also shape you. By joining the Maker Fellowship, you will make a significant social impact by:

Cultivating curiosity and an aptitude for technology in students from an early age.
Encouraging problem-solving, innovation, and creative thinking.
Empowering teachers to deliver STEM concepts through hands-on learning.
Contributing to the broader education ecosystem and influencing policy.