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Dr. M. S. Vijay Kumar

Founding Executive Director, J-WEL & Senior Advisor to VP Open Learning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The Future of Educators & Digital Upskilling: TAISI Hub Launch

Vijay has been providing leadership and strategy for sustainable technology-enabled educational innovation at MIT for the past 28 years, He is a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee of MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) and served as the Executive officer for MIT's Council on Educational Technology.

Vijay's research and his advisory engagements include assignments with UNESCO, India National Knowledge Commission, Open University of Catalonia, Singapore University of Technology and Design; Qatar Foundation International, Hewlett Foundation, EDC, as well as initiatives in Latin America, Philippines and the Middle East. He co-led CLIx, the Tata- MIT initiative to advance educational quality and access in underserved Indian schools that received the UNESCO 2017 King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education; the MIT-Woodrow Wilson partnership for teacher preparation; the NSF supported MIT-Haiti initiative for strengthening STEM education, and “Fly-By-Wire”, a US DOE project to addressing the learning needs of differently prepared students, at scale.

In 2013, he was awarded an honorary professorship by Tianjin Open University. He was also named the Exxon Mobil Chair for Technology Enabled Learning at the University of Qatar, 2014 Vijay received his Ed. D from the University of Massachusetts. Amherst and both his M.S. in industrial management and B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, which recognized him as a distinguished alumnus in 2011.

Roshan Abbas

Actor; TV & radio host; producer; film & theatre director; Founder Kommune

Topic: #yesorno - Social Media and Schools

A man of many talents—TV, film, theatre, event management, angel investor, entrepreneur, author, and public speaking coach—Roshan Abbas hardly needs an introduction. But this time, he’ll take the hot seat to tackle the pressing issue of social media and schools. In this unique, high-engagement session, he’ll ask the tough questions while a live screen displays audience comments, polls, and votes, creating a dynamic, tech-enabled experience.

Sonia Manchanda

Founding Partner, Spread Design and Innovation and Board Member, World Design Organisation

Topic: The Art of Storytelling: Crafting a Compelling Narrative for Your School

As a Board Member of the World Design Organisation and Founding Partner at Spread Design and Innovation, Sonia's unique ability to blend culture, design, innovation, and strategy makes her the ideal choice to lead an experiential workshop on crafting school brand narratives. With the growing need for schools to differentiate their brand and vision, this workshop will equip participants with practical ideas and a ready-to-implement playbook to ensure their story stands out.

Kathleen Naglee

Education Futurist & Head of School, International School of Helsinki

Topic: Beyond the Mirror: AI Bots, Digital Twins, and the Next Learning Frontier

Meet Katbot, the digital twin of Kathleen Naglee—an award-winning educational leader. Trained on Kathleen's own data, including her writings, podcasts, interviews, keynotes, poetry, and voice, Katbot offers a unique glimpse into the future of learning. What does it mean for a learner to be taught by their own voice or even their mother’s? In this unmissable session, participants will interact with Kathleen's digital twin and explore the psychological insights, opportunities, and potential risks of this next era in education.

Dr Tony Sam George

Dean, Psychological Sciences, Christ University – Bangalore

Topic: Building Zen Zones in Schools: Equipping Your Students with EQ Superpowers

Dr. Tony, with a career dedicated to emotional and mental well-being, brings deep expertise in addressing trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress—challenges many children face today. His holistic yet practical approach, blending psychological insight with spiritual care, uniquely equips him to guide educators and school administrators in creating actionable frameworks prioritising mental health and fostering compassionate, safe environments where children feel secure, understood, and supported.

Deepthi Bopaiah

CEO, GoSports Foundation

Topic: From Access to Quality to Excellence in Sports

GoSports Foundation, driven by a vision to create a sporting ecosystem rooted in excellence, aims to "#changethescript," as Deepthi herself puts it. Who better, then, to discuss how schools can build systems that identify, nurture, and train young sports talent? With her extensive experience working with coaches, trainers, athletes, and fitness experts, alongside her knowledge of sports management and the business of sport, Deepthi offers valuable insights as part of a brainstorming session with other experts from the field for schools seeking to cultivate a culture of sporting excellence.

Russell Speirs

Executive Director of iGNIS – the Governance Network for International Schools, UK

Topic: Effective Governance in International Schools: Best Practices for School Boards and Leadership Teams

As a respected advisor to school boards and senior leaders, Russell profoundly understands the complexities schools face today. In this specially designed session, participants will have the opportunity for one-on-one consultations with him, identifying and focusing on their specific governance challenges. Schools can leverage Russell's expertise to develop executable plans for immediate implementation, with the option to establish longer-term follow-up strategies to ensure continued success.

Anjum Babukhan

Author, Founder-Former Director Glendale Academy & Multiple Intelligences Expert

Topic: Building MI (Multiple Intelligences) in the Time of AI

Drawing from her expertise as the author of The ABCs of Brain-Compatible Learning, and her learning experiences at Harvard, Stanford, and Cambridge, Anjum brings a wealth of knowledge as an educator and founder of Glendale Academy. Her passion lies in uncovering the hidden potential in children, with a focus on developing multiple intelligences. In this session, she will guide educators in crafting their own blueprint for fostering these intelligences in students.

Lina Asher

Founder of Kangaroo Kids Preschool & Billabong High International School, Founder of Dreamtime Learning)

Topic: Traditional Indian Wisdom for Teacher Development

As the founder of Kangaroo Kids, Billabong High, and Dreamtime Learning, Lina is deeply passionate about children, learning, peace, happiness, self-mastery, and challenging the status quo. With a proven track record of developing learner-centric education systems, featuring a research-driven curriculum, practical knowledge application, and international standards, she will lead a hands-on workshop exploring how looking to our roots can help shape the pedagogical frameworks of the future.

The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru

7-9 Nov 2024

Join us for 3 days of Global Insights Fostering

International Education Excellence

Register Now

Speakers

Vijay has been providing leadership and strategy for sustainable technology-enabled educational innovation at MIT for the past 28 years, He is a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee of MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) and served as the Executive officer for MIT's Council on Educational Technology.

Vijay's research and his advisory engagements include assignments with UNESCO, India National Knowledge Commission, Open University of Catalonia, Singapore University of Technology and Design; Qatar Foundation International, Hewlett Foundation, EDC, as well as initiatives in Latin America, Philippines and the Middle East. He co-led CLIx, the Tata-MIT initiative to advance educational quality and access in underserved Indian schools that received the UNESCO 2017 King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education; the MIT-Woodrow Wilson partnership for teacher preparation; the NSF supported MIT-Haiti initiative for strengthening STEM education, and “Fly-By-Wire”, a US DOE project to addressing the learning needs of differently prepared students, at scale.

In 2013, he was awarded an honorary professorship by Tianjin Open University. He was also named the Exxon Mobil Chair for Technology Enabled Learning at the University of Qatar, 2014 Vijay received his Ed. D from the University of Massachusetts. Amherst and both his M.S. in industrial management and B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, which recognized him as a distinguished alumnus in 2011.

Dr. M. S. Vijay Kumar

Dr. M. S. Vijay Kumar

Founding Executive Director, J-WEL & Senior Advisor to VP Open Learning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The Future of Educators & Digital Upskilling: TAISI Hub Launch

Sonia Manchanda

Founding Partner, Spread Design and Innovation and Board Member, World Design Organisation

Topic: The Art of Storytelling: Crafting a Compelling Narrative for Your School

As a Board Member of the World Design Organisation and Founding Partner at Spread Design and Innovation, Sonia's unique ability to blend culture, design, innovation, and strategy makes her the ideal choice to lead an experiential workshop on crafting school brand narratives. With the growing need for schools to differentiate their brand and vision, this workshop will equip participants with practical ideas and a ready-to-implement playbook to ensure their story stands out.

Roshan Abbas

Roshan Abbas

Actor; TV & radio host; producer; film & theatre director; Founder Kommune

Topic: #yesorno - Social Media and Schools

A man of many talents—TV, film, theatre, event management, angel investor, entrepreneur, author, and public speaking coach—Roshan Abbas hardly needs an introduction. But this time, he’ll take the hot seat to tackle the pressing issue of social media and schools. In this unique, high-engagement session, he’ll ask the tough questions while a live screen displays audience comments, polls, and votes, creating a dynamic, tech-enabled experience.

Kathleen Naglee

Education Futurist & Head of School, International School of Helsinki

Topic: Beyond the Mirror: AI Bots, Digital Twins, and the Next Learning Frontier

Meet Katbot, the digital twin of Kathleen Naglee—an award-winning educational leader. Trained on Kathleen's own data, including her writings, podcasts, interviews, keynotes, poetry, and voice, Katbot offers a unique glimpse into the future of learning. What does it mean for a learner to be taught by their own voice or even their mother’s? In this unmissable session, participants will interact with Kathleen's digital twin and explore the psychological insights, opportunities, and potential risks of this next era in education.

Dr Tony Sam George

Dr Tony Sam George

Dean, Psychological Sciences, Christ University – Bangalore

Topic: Building Zen Zones in Schools: Equipping Your Students with EQ Superpowers

Dr. Tony, with a career dedicated to emotional and mental well-being, brings deep expertise in addressing trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress—challenges many children face today. His holistic yet practical approach, blending psychological insight with spiritual care, uniquely equips him to guide educators and school administrators in creating actionable frameworks prioritising mental health and fostering compassionate, safe environments where children feel secure, understood, and supported.

Deepthi Bopaiah

CEO, GoSports Foundation

Topic: From Access to Quality to Excellence in Sports

GoSports Foundation, driven by a vision to create a sporting ecosystem rooted in excellence, aims to "#changethescript," as Deepthi herself puts it. Who better, then, to discuss how schools can build systems that identify, nurture, and train young sports talent? With her extensive experience working with coaches, trainers, athletes, and fitness experts, alongside her knowledge of sports management and the business of sport, Deepthi offers valuable insights as part of a brainstorming session with other experts from the field for schools seeking to cultivate a culture of sporting excellence.

Russell Speirs

Executive Director of iGNIS – the Governance Network for International Schools, UK

Topic: Effective Governance in International Schools: Best Practices for School Boards and Leadership Teams

As a respected advisor to school boards and senior leaders, Russell profoundly understands the complexities schools face today. In this specially designed session, participants will have the opportunity for one-on-one consultations with him, identifying and focusing on their specific governance challenges. Schools can leverage Russell's expertise to develop executable plans for immediate implementation, with the option to establish longer-term follow-up strategies to ensure continued success.

Anjum Babukhan

Author, Founder-Former Director Glendale Academy & Multiple Intelligences Expert

Topic: Building MI (Multiple Intelligences) in the Time of AI

Drawing from her expertise as the author of The ABCs of Brain-Compatible Learning, and her learning experiences at Harvard, Stanford, and Cambridge, Anjum brings a wealth of knowledge as an educator and founder of Glendale Academy. Her passion lies in uncovering the hidden potential in children, with a focus on developing multiple intelligences. In this session, she will guide educators in crafting their own blueprint for fostering these intelligences in students.

Lina Asher

Lina Asher

Founder of Kangaroo Kids Preschool & Billabong High International School, Founder of Dreamtime Learning)

Topic: Traditional Indian Wisdom for Teacher Development

As the founder of Kangaroo Kids, Billabong High, and Dreamtime Learning, Lina is deeply passionate about children, learning, peace, happiness, self-mastery, and challenging the status quo. With a proven track record of developing learner-centric education systems, featuring a research-driven curriculum, practical knowledge application, and international standards, she will lead a hands-on workshop exploring how looking to our roots can help shape the pedagogical frameworks of the future.