--- title: 'Harvard Offers Free Certification & Training | Last Day | Aspire Leaders Program 2026' source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=ogNfGq3qT9c' video_id: 'ogNfGq3qT9c' date: 2026-08-05 duration_sec: 670 --- # Harvard Offers Free Certification & Training | Last Day | Aspire Leaders Program 2026 > Source: [Harvard Offers Free Certification & Training | Last Day | Aspire Leaders Program 2026](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ogNfGq3qT9c) ## Summary The video presents the Aspire Leaders Program, a free online initiative by Harvard faculty that offers training, certification, and global networking to students from limited-income or first-generation college backgrounds. It details the program's origins, eligibility criteria, benefits, application process, and deadline, urging viewers to apply before January 21, 2026. ### Key Points - **Free Harvard Education for 60,000 Indian Students** [00:01] — The video claims that 60,000 Indian students are currently studying for free from Harvard faculty, many from 2-3 cities, and challenges viewers to consider why they can't do the same. - **Cost of Harvard Education** [00:13] — Studying at Harvard costs approximately ₹65-80 lakhs per year, totaling around ₹3 crores for 4 years, making it inaccessible to most. - **Origin of Aspire Leaders Program** [00:57] — Professor Tarun Khanna and Karim Lakhani at Harvard noticed talent everywhere but opportunities only for the rich, leading to the creation of the Aspire Leaders Program (formerly Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program). - **Program Growth and Recognition** [01:36] — Started with 100-200 students, became independent as Aspire Institute in 2021, and by 2026 has reached over 5 lakh students in 190+ countries. Rockefeller Foundation awarded Professor Khanna the Balagio Fellowship in 2025. - **Selection Process is Not Competitive** [02:15] — Contrary to myths, the selection process is not like IIT JEE; if you meet eligibility and fill the application correctly, your profile will be accepted. - **Eligibility Criteria** [02:39] — Four criteria: age 18-29, either first-generation college student or limited income background, currently enrolled or recently graduated (no postgrad/PhD), and basic English knowledge. - **Benefits: Skills, Network, Curriculum, Certificate** [03:43] — Benefits include learning critical thinking, problem-solving, systematic thinking from Harvard faculty; global network with students from 190+ countries; Harvard curriculum for resume building, LinkedIn optimization, interview prep; and a certificate from Harvard faculty. - **Urgency: Job Market Trends** [05:14] — 1.5 lakh tech employees fired globally in 2024, 15 lakh in 2025 (Intel 22k, Microsoft 15k, Amazon 5k), emphasizing the need to upgrade skills. - **Credibility of Program** [06:09] — The program is backed by UNESCO and Rockefeller Foundation, founded by Harvard professors, with over 5 lakh students from 190+ countries enrolled. - **Application Process Steps** [06:36] — Step 1: Register on aspireleaders.org with Gmail, activate account. Step 2: Complete profile 100% (application form won't open otherwise). Step 3: Fill application with three sections: Eligibility, Motivation (be specific), Confirmation. Step 4: Wait for confirmation email. - **Deadline and Program Dates** [09:02] — Deadline is January 21, 2026; program runs from February 4 to April 7, 2026 (9 weeks). - **Success Story: Tashia Khan** [09:15] — Tashia Khan, 2024 alumna, learned that leadership is about inspiring others through actions, not position, and now leads community initiatives. - **Alumni Impact** [09:56] — Over 60,000 Indian alumni across every state, working in healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and social impact. ### Conclusion The Aspire Leaders Program offers a rare, free opportunity to gain Harvard-level skills and global exposure, with a simple application process. The video urges immediate action before the deadline to avoid regret. ## Transcript believe that nothing comes for free because today 60,000 Indian students are studying for free from Harvard faculty and you don't even know and most of these people are from 2 to 3 cities. He comes from a middle class family and is a first generation college student. So now the question is, if everyone can do this then why can't you? But to study from Harvard, you should first know how much it costs to study from Harvard, which is approximately ₹ 65 to ₹80 lakhs and this is the cost for one year, meaning the total cost for 4 years is almost ₹3 crores. You might be thinking how is it available for free, it must be a scam, but in the next 10 minutes I will tell you about such an opportunity which can literally change your thinking, but if you do not wait till the end, then the deadline of 21st January will be over and you will only be left with regret. So friends watch the video till the end and before moving ahead welcome to Skills or India's most before moving ahead welcome to Skills or India's most relatable career channel. a professor was sitting at Harvard Business School. Professor Tarun Khanna was also the Director of the South Asia Institute and had been teaching at Harvard for almost 30 years. So one day he talked to his college professor Karim Lakhani and together they looked at the data of not just 2, 4 or 10 but lakhs of students there. Students from India , Pakistan, Bangladesh, Africa, everywhere, and they noticed a pattern. He saw that there was talent everywhere, from big cities to rural areas, but opportunities were available only to the rich. That's why he thought, what if we could take Harvard's education model and make it online, that too absolutely free? And this is where the Aspire Leaders Program began. [MUSIC] It used to be called the Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program. And initially there were only about 100 to 200 students in it. But after some time something happened which increased the level of this small program. In 2021, the program became independent from Harvard and became an Aspire Institute, and in 2025, the Rockefeller Foundation awarded Professor Khanna the Balagio Fellowship, which is exclusively for humanity-changing ideas. The result of which is that today by 2026 this program has reached more than 5 lakh students. That too in more than 190 countries. And there is something special about it too. Many people think that since it is connected to hardware, its selection process will also be very tough. But this is also a myth. Aspire Institute itself says that if you meet the eligibility criteria and take 10 minutes to fill the application form correctly, your profile will be accepted. Yes, you heard it right. This is not an IIT JEE type competition where 10,000 out of 1 lakh are selected. Because the goal of this program is different and that is to reach maximum deserving students. Otherwise, talent gets wasted. So now you might be wondering whether I am eligible or not? And this question is absolutely valid. In fact, the what is the eligibility criteria ? That's why I come straight to the point. There are four simple criteria to be eligible for this. First, your age should be between 18 to 29. Secondly, this is a bit interesting and in this you should have at least one option out of the two. You must be either a first generation college student. This means that you should be the first graduate in your family and your parents should not have any bachelor's degree. Or if you come from a limited income background then also think that no one in my family went to college or our financial condition is not good then this is perfect for you. Third, you are currently enrolled in college or have recently graduated. Just don't have a post graduate or PhD. And fourthly, you should know basic English. Even if it is not perfect, it will still work, friends. But just enough so that you can understand the lectures. Now, before I proceed further, let me tell you one thing. If you think that I am an average student. I will not be selected or my marks are not good or I come from a 3rd city, then understand that if all this is happening with you then you are very well eligible for this program because this program is So let's now talk about what you will get from this and here I am not going to just tell the theory but will also give examples of real people. This is Divya, a 2024 Aspire alumnus from Delhi, who is a first-generation college student from her family. When he simple degree. No special skills , no network. But within 9 weeks of joining the program, he learned from Harvard faculty. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Systematic Thinking. Because look, the World Economic Forum's 2025 report is saying that this is one of the top five most in-demand skills. If we that this is one of the top five most in-demand skills. If we AI will replace 86% of the jobs. So in such a situation, if you do not do the skill now then how will you complete it? Number two global network. With the help of this program alone, Divya was able to connect with students from 190+ countries. Just imagine sitting at your place and talking to people from Brazil, Kenya, Turkey , Bangladesh. You are exchanging ideas and these connections become life long. Alumni groups are formed and you get access to mentorship programs. Number three Harv Diz curriculum. Exactly the same material that Harvard students study. Resume building, Lindin, optimization, interviews, preparation everything. And normally a Harvard student spends more than Rs 2 crore for that degree, here study material and resources of that level are made available to you for free. Number Four Harv Faculty Science Certificate. Imagine if your resume says Aspire Leader Trained by Harvard Faculty. How will the weightage not increase when someone sees the name of a world class university in your resume. Imagine what will be the reaction of HR in the interview? So now the question is, if they can do it, why can't you? But I have seen that in the last 1 minute many people say that they will do it later. There is still time for this. So let me tell you one thing. ₹1.5 lakh tech employees were fired globally in 2024. And ₹15 lakh in 2025, in which Intel fired 22,000, Microsoft fired 15,000 and Amazon, fired more than 5,000 employees. And most likely this trend is going to continue in 2026 also. is already so competitive and this is reducing that competition further. So if you do n't upgrade now, don't develop skills, don't do networking, then how will you survive? And look, I am not saying that a degree is not useful, but just a degree will not suffice. You need skills, global exposure, leadership, mindset. And if all this is available to you for free right now, then you should definitely check it out. Normally people spend lakhs on online courses, coaching, workshops and here Harvard level education is being made available for free. That too made available for free. That too know some people will write in the comment section that this is all a scam. Nothing comes for free. So listen, this program is a UNESCO and Rockefeller Foundation pact and it has been founded by Harvard professors themselves and more than 5 lakh students from 1190 plus countries have already enrolled and completed it. Plus now he has an opportunity to meet Indian alumnus Professor Tarun Khanna. There are events in Delhi and Mumbai and you can come there and get funding for your idea. This is a credible program how to apply for this because look, many people are interested but they get confused in the application process and then do not apply. in detail. But first one important thing is that the deadline is 21st January 2026, which means you have very few days and the program will start from 4th February and it will run for 9 weeks i.e. from 4th February to 7th April. So the timing is perfect from February to for this opportunity you can also manage your college exams for some time. Now it is time for the application process. Step number one is registration. The first thing to Step number one is registration. The first thing to go is Engage. Leaders. On registration. I have also put this link in the description. There you will have to register yourself with Gmail ID. There you will have to register yourself with Gmail ID. automatic confirmation email. Open that email, activate the account and set the password. Then step number two profile completion. Many people skip this step not able to find the application form. So listen carefully. The application form will not open until the profile is 100% complete. So fill your mobile number, education details, current status etc. carefully and double check it because these details are verified by the program team. Then step number three is the application form. Now comes the actual application which has three sections. Section A Eligibility Confirmation means age, first-generation status, income background, you must fill all this correctly and honestly. And look, honesty as a life skill is also very important. And in this program, if your lie is caught once, your profile will be permanently disqualified. Section B Motivation. This is the most important section. Here you have to tell why do you want to join? What are your goals? How will this program help? So do n't write something very generic like I want to improve myself, instead I would say be as specific as possible. For example, I specific as possible. For example, I I need leadership and project management skills, and the Aspire program will opportunities. So tell your real story in it. Tell us about your struggles and write your dreams in it. Because evaluators read thousands of applications a day and in such a situation, if your answers are very generic then there are more chances of them getting lost in the crowd. But your authentic stories can stand out in that crowd. And lastly section C confirmation. Just read the terms carefully, accept them and submit them. And believe me, this is a 10-minute job. It can change your life upside down. Now step number four wait for confirmation. Apply for this program by January 21st. Then keep checking your email for the next week. You will receive a confirmation mail that you have been selected and the program will start from February 4 and right now click on the link given in the description and keep applying as told and before ending the video I would like to share one more story which might inspire you and this story is of Tashia Khan who is a 2024 alumnus of this program from India and she not joined the Aspire program, she believed that leadership comes from position and not from title but in the program the Harvard faculty taught her that leadership is not about position it is about inspiring others through your actions. And this realization changed his thinking. Today she is leading initiatives in her community. Alumnae are organizing events and mentoring other students. Without any fancy title, without any big company, just my actions. As of today, Aspire has a total of more than 60,000 Indian alumni in every state and every city. Some are working in health care, some in education, some in entrepreneurship, and some in social impact. But what do they all have in common? Everyone had taken a decision to apply, to try something because look, there are some things in life which come one time and if you do not take action at that time then later only regret remains. I see a lot of comments. I wish I had applied earlier. I wish I had tried it but don't be that person. So pause the video right now. Go to the link given in the description. Take 10 minutes and apply. What will be the worst case Now think what could be the best case scenario ? The trajectory of your entire life can what is the risk? Nothing. But the opportunities are unlimited. And yes, if you have friends who may be eligible for this or are siblings or cousins, then definitely share this video with them because this opportunity may change their life. And confusion. I will reply personally. Subscribe to the channel if you haven't already and also press the bell icon because I regularly share such opportunities, scholarships and free programs. And remember, you have the talent, you just have to grab the opportunity. So go apply and write your story. See you in the next video. Till then keep learning, keep growing. And this is skills.