Page 60 - EW August 2023

People

IB Director-General phenomenal and has strengthened
our conviction in the potential of
students in India benefiting from
the IB and IBCP curriculums. I am
especially pleased with the growth of
the IBCP programme in India. While
in Mumbai, I visited the Children’s
Academy International School which
is the latest school to affiliate with
us to offer its students the IBCP pro-
gram in the academic year 2023-24.
Our partnership agreement with the
Haryana State Board of Education
on teacher education was another
highlight of my India tour,” says
Heinonen.
Future plans. Currently, Heinonen is
focused on fulfilling IB’s 2030 goals.
“We are fully committed to the con-
tinuous improvement of IB’s support
systems and services and new initia-
Heinonen (centre): successful Festival of Hope tives that will transform the higher
secondary education landscape. The
inland-born OLLI PEKKA HEI- the Finnish government as minister reception of schools in India to the
NONEN is Director-General of of education and science (1994- IB and IBCP has been very positive.
Fthe globally respected Geneva- 1999); senior commercial officer of I am confident that with the Indian
based International Baccalaureate the Finnish National Broadcasting government’s National Education
(IB, estb.1968) examinations board Company (2002-2012); and State Policy 2020 welcoming foreign
which offers Primary and Middle Secretary (2012-2016). Between universities to establish campuses
Years curriculums, International 2016-2021 he served as Director- in India, the number of IB-affiliated
Baccalaureate Diploma Programme General of the Finnish National schools will multiply,” says Hei-
(IBDP) and the International Bacca- Agency for Education. nonen.
laureate Career-Related Programme Heinonen is also actively engaged Paromita Sengupta (Bengaluru)
(IBCP) school-leaving examinations with the Organisation for Economic
written by higher secondary students Co-operation and Development Uplifters founder-
worldwide. (OECD) and other global organ-
Newspeg. In late May, Heinonen was isations, where he contributes his
in India (Gurugram and Mumbai) to expertise on the future of education promoter
launch IB’s Festival of Hope initia- including personalised and lifelong
tive in collaboration with Pathways learning, the impact of technology urugram-based UMANG SAN-
School, Gurgaon and Dhirubhai and professional development of GAL (28) is the founder-pro-
Ambani International School, Mum- educators. In 2021, he accepted an Gmoter of Uplifters Academy
bai. This festival was attended by invitation from IB to take charge of Pvt. Ltd, a mint new edtech company
students of 100 IB-affiliated schools this prestigious international exami- (estb.2023), offering skills training
in India. Designed to unite the global nations board which has over 5,600 programmes and guidance through
community around the most press- high-end affiliated schools in 159 live online classes which has got off
ing challenges the world is facing, the countries including 209 in India. to a flying start. Uplifters is targeting
festival successfully brought together Direct talk. “The Festival of Hope pre and final year undergrads and
IB students to engage in impactful started in the UK and US to support working professionals in Tier II-III
dialogues through a combination innovative ideas and conversations cities to enable them to become job
of in-person workshops and exhibi- that translate into positive action. ready and progress in their careers.
tions. The exhibits by students in Guru- Since its promotion in February,
History. A law postgraduate of Hel- gram and Mumbai have proven to be the company has signed up 2,500
sinki University, Heinonen served in powerful testimonials of this vision. students for its weekend, pay after
several top leadership positions of What we experienced was truly placement and placement assistance

60 EDUCATIONWORLD AUGUST 2023