Sunny Varkey, Founder & Executive Chairman, GEMS Education Group
Sunny Varkey is the Founder of the GEMS Education Group. He is a passionate education entrepreneur who is the driver behind GEMS’ mission to advance education for all. Mr Varkey believes in the power of education to reduce poverty, prejudice and conflict around the world. To find new solutions to world education challenges, he has forged partnerships with the World Economic Forum, Microsoft, UNESCO and The Clinton Global Initiative.
Mr Varkey’s visionary ambition and campaigning efforts have been widely recognised. In 2012 he was named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education Partnerships. The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education conferred an award of distinction for Mr Varkey’s service to education in 2011. The Indian Government has honoured him in 2009 with the Padma Shri Award, one of the highest civilian honours, and the Rajiv Gandhi Award for Eminent Educationist in 2008.
Francis Joseph, Executive Director, India Region, GEMS Education India Region
Francis Joseph has established and managed hundreds of K12 schools affiliated to National and International education boards in different parts of India and overseas. Besides managing K12 Schools, he was also involved in establishing & managing a new education board for a State Government in India. He is recognized as one of the top 25 educationists transforming education in India. He is known for developing and implementing policies & decisions of public interest by collaborating with CBSE, ICSE, Cambridge, and IB Boards.
Ashok Pandey, Member, Governing Body, GEMS Education India Region
Dr Ashok Pandey is a renowned educationist with three decades of experience in school education. He is a recipient of the CBSE Award for Contribution in Education, the National Award of the President of India, Lifetime Achievement Award of the Ferguson Humanitarian Foundation International. He is also listed among the Top 100 People Managers by Forbes India. He is a member of the National Council for Teacher Education (Govt. of India), former member of the CBSE’s Governing Board and member of the Advisory Board of Cambridge Assessment International Education (South Asia).
Dr. Amrita Vohra COO & Director Education GEMS Education India Region
Amrita Vohra has over 25 years of experience in education. She is a PhD in English Literature and a certified Program Leader for Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications for teachers and school leaders. She is recognized as one of India’s top 100 ‘Great People Managers’, who has helped setup and led various schools. K-12 Policy, Professional Development, Quality Assurance, Early Childhood Education, Drama in Education and Social Emotional Learning are some of her key interests.. She has been a part of the CBSE Holistic Progress Card Committee and various other research and development initiatives by the Education Board.
GEMS Franchisee Model
GEMS Education is the world’s largest operator of a private K12 school chain, having 190+ Schools, 1,70,000 students, from 176 nationalities in 9 countries. The mission of GEMS Schools range from budget schools to high premium schools, affiliated to all types of state, national and international boards across the world. The GEMS Partner School Network offers aspiring entrepreneurs and established school proprietors to align with the prestigious GEMS Education Group. Within this structure, the GEMS partner schools find themselves immersed in a realm of privileges.
They gain access to an array of international best practices, encompassing meticulous guidelines and policies spanning diverse domains including curriculum design, academic excellence, professional development of key staff, operational efficiency, marketing, safety and security protocols, effective parent communication, seamless technology integration, and holistic quality management.
GEMS extends invaluable advisory support across pivotal spheres, encompassing curriculum enrichment, professional development, quality enhancement, seamless digital integration, global best practices, and refined communication strategies. Meanwhile, the Partner (GEMS Partner school) assume the mantle of responsibility for both capital and operational investments, spearheading day-to-day operations, admissions procedures, and diligently adhering to the guiding principles set forth by GEMS.
Selection & Customization of Curriculum and Educational Resources
To determine the Key Success Factors (KSF), GEMS and potential partners collaborate to conduct a comprehensive secondary market research. This research is coupled with Focus Group Discussions (FGD) to ascertain aspects such as board offerings, fees structure, extra-curricular activities, and sports and performing arts programs for the prospective franchisee schools.
GEMS ensures consistency in educational standards and quality by maintaining a centralized curriculum developed by experts, providing ongoing teacher training, establishing quality assurance teams for evaluations, using standardized assessments, sharing educational resources, conducting regular reviews and feedback collection, integrating technology for communication, fostering a community of practice, offering comprehensive franchisee support and training, and conducting periodic audits to ensure compliance with GEMS standard. This comprehensive approach guarantees a uniform and high-quality learning experience across all the franchise locations.
GEMS Education maintains active collaborations with renowned educational institutions, attends international conferences and engages in partnerships with industry leaders. Educational research and development teams continuously monitor global educational advancements, allowing GEMS to adapt curriculum, teaching methodologies, and learning environments accordingly. Regular interaction among the network of educators, administrators, and experts facilitates sharing of best practices and innovative ideas. By incorporating these insights into the franchise model, GEMS ensures that students are benefitted and are well-prepared for the evolving demands of the modern world.
