Great Place to Study (GPTS) Research Institute, an international auditing firm commissioned by SkillTree Knowledge Consortium to certify and audit Indian colleges, together with the international business and communications consultancy Sterling Media, hosted the 3rd Indo-UK Thought Leadership awards at a glittering award ceremony at the Mayfair Hotel in London, to honour British and Indian change-makers in the field of education, business and international relations.
Hosted as part of the 3rd Great Place to Study India Edition initiative, a two-day delegation of India and UK academics, educationists, public figures and business leaders convened in London, the 3rd Indo-UK Thought Leadership Awards were held in recognition of the 70th anniversary of India and UK’s cultural and business partnership, and the role of eminent thought-leaders in India and UK to strengthen bilateral trade, economic, cultural and education relations between the nations. The education sector not only acts as a soft power in cementing the thought leadership of a country, it also helps to move the needle to create change and inspire a nation.
Attendees included esteemed political and public figures, VIPs, business stalwarts, social contributors and lynchpins of the education and business sector from the UK and India. The list of eminent awardees included:
- Global Icon Award – Rajesh Agrawal – Deputy Mayor of London for Business
- Future Herald Award – Jay Varkey, Group Executive Director GEMS Education
- Outstanding Contribution to Education Empowerment – Kate Robinson
- Outstanding Contribution to Indo – UK Academic Relations – Dame Asha Khemka
- Outstanding Contribution: India-UK Relation – Virendra Sharma, MP
- Excellence in Business – Mihir Kapadia, CEO, SunGlobal Investments
- Centre of Excellence Award – UK – Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies, Shaunaka Rishi Das
- Youth Icon Award – Sanam Arora, President, National Indian Students & Alumni Union
- Edupreneur of the Year – Jesus Lall, CEO Universal Education Group
- Education Evangelist of the year – Grace Pinto (Ryan International School)
- Outstanding Contribution in Indian Education & Industry – Sushma Paul Berlia, Chairperson & President: Apeejay Svran Group & Apeejay Education Society
- Centre of Excellence Award – India – Case Research Center, ICFAI Group, Sudhakar Rao
Speaking about the role of education bridging the two cultures of India and UK, Dinesh Patnaik, Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK, said “Knowledge changes everything, and it is vital as education acts as a great link between the two countries. However, over the years, the number of Indian students coming to the UK to study has fallen down from 40,000 to 16,000. While this is not a loss to India considering they have other welcome options such as the US, Canada, Germany or Australia where numbers seem to swell, it is certainly a setback for working and expanding on the historical UK India ties which was based historically over the medium of education as a facilitator for socio-economic and political relations.”
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Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor of London for Business said: “London is a city of dreams, where one can achieve anything. My story is a testimonial to that, I grew up from a small town in India and stepped out for the first time abroad, and landed in Heathrow with £200 in my pocket back in 2001. This is the greatness of the city, and education is one of the greatest exports, making it now only a 3 billion pound strong economy, but giving us a huge soft power. As for the city, this is why we have launched the ‘London is Open’ campaign to attract and welcome some of the world’s best talent.”
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