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People

Ekya Nava innovator structure have been purposefully
designed to support its innovative
curriculum,” says Dr. Ramamurthy.
Future plans. Over the next five
years, Ramamurthy’s plan is to
multiply the number of Ekya schools
and several other purpose-based
schools. “Our focus is on enhancing
learning experiences by ensuring
every child is supported and val-
ued. Simultaneously, we intend to
intensify our teacher development
programs to empower educators to
experiment with innovative teaching
practices, and expand our collabora-
tive networks with industry leaders,
career advisors, and higher educa-
tion experts,” she says.
Wind in your sails!
Paromita Sengupta (Bengaluru)

Upskilling educator
Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy: enhanced learning focus
rovost of the reputed Benga- Stanford (USA) universities with a
luru-based multidisciplinary Ph D in education from King’s Col- ALI PRASAD GADIRAJU is
PCMR University (CMRU), an lege, London, Dr. Ramamurthy ven- chairman of the Hyderabad-
institution awarded private universi- tured into school education in 2010 Kbased EThames College
ty status by special legislation of the with the promotion of Ekya School in (estb.2009) affiliated with Osmania
Karnataka state government in 2013, Bengaluru. Since then over the past University which offers three under-
DR. TRISTHA RAMAMURTHY is also 14 years, the number of Ekya schools grad programmes (BBA, B.Com and
founder-director of the Bengaluru- has multiplied to five with an ag- BCA) to upskill students to make
based Ekya Schools — a chain of five gregate enrolment of (“confidential”) them industry-ready and secure well-
K-12 progressive schools. CMRU boys and girls. The ambitious Ekya paid employment.
with its constituent technology, Nava sited on an 1.5-acre campus in Newspeg. To celebrate its 15th an-
business management, law and life Whitefield, Bengaluru's IT hub, is the niversary, on February 19, Gadiraju
schools, has an aggregate enrolment latest addition. launched the EThames Global School
of 20,000 students from 40 coun- Direct talk. “Ekya Nava has been of Design which is set to offer in-
tries around the world. designed to transcend traditional novative fashion, digital, graphic and
Newspeg. Last November, Ekya learning by memorisation to stimu- interior design study programmes.
Schools — a division of the CMR late the inherent design thinking, History. An economics and com-
Group — launched a new concept creativity, innovation, and love for merce alum of Sri Venkateshwara
school named Ekya Nava (new) learning within children. The distin- University, Tirupati and Acharya
which is billed Asia’s first Maker guishing feature of Ekya Nava is its Nagarjuna University, Guntur,
School of Innovation, Creativity comprehensive integration of these equipped with globally recognised
& Design. The co-ed Ekya Nava is principles across all levels of K-12 certification in Internal Audit, In-
designed to initiate a novel ‘maker education. We intend to nurture, formation Systems Audit and Fraud
movement’ in India to school a encourage, and empower young Examination from the US, Gadiraju
young generation of creators, tinker- learners through a cross-disciplinary began his career in 1985 serving in
ers, innovators, product leaders, approach. Our curriculum integrates several accountancy firms before
change agents, and techpreneurs. best practices from national and signing up with Ernst & Young, Delhi
Ekya Nava will admit its first batch international educational frame- in 1995. After serving for over two
in the academic year 2024-25. works with the core learning focus decades and retiring as Managing
History. A highly qualified business on design, making and breaking, Partner of EY, Hyderabad in 2019,
management and education postgrad entrepreneurship and innovation. driven by “a passion to make a last-
of the Singapore Management and The school’s pedagogies and infra- ing impact in Indian higher educa-

56 EDUCATIONWORLD MARCH 2024