DEVON pupil Caitlin Bawn has flown to India after being chosen by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to go on a fact-finding mission to countries playing a major part in the new global economy.

Caitlin, 18, was selected for the British Council-run scheme after a series of four interview days in London earlier this year.

Only 99 other young people across the UK were picked to go.

The Prime Minister's Global Fellowship is supported by website Bebo and multinational companies including Shell, Tesco, and HSBC.

Caitlin, of Budleigh Salterton, who has just finished taking A-levels at The King's School in Ottery St Mary, left for the six-week trip last weekend.

Her first two weeks will be spent doing a cultural immersion course, which will include a trip to the Taj Mahal and learning basic Hindi.

For the second fortnight she will travel to Calcutta, working in a partner school, living with a host family and experiencing the culture firsthand. In the last two weeks she will be placed with a global company as part of a work experience-style placement.

Caitlin has also been chosen to be one of the scheme's 12 media leaders and will share her experiences via the internet.

On her return, she will attend a conference with Mr Brown in November.

To follow Caitlin's trip, log on to: http://www.global-fellowship.org.