Page 88 - EW May 2020 for Flipbuilder

People

which lists 1,098 top-ranked Ameri- Biotech skills nationwide lockdown of education
College Athletic Association (NCAA)
institutions and industry, the com-
can colleges as members. Corvuss’ pany has switched to online learning
US high school diploma has also trainer since April 1 to ensure learning conti-
been approved by the Delhi-based nuity. Leveraging digital learning
Association of Indian Universities. platforms such as Google Hangout
History. A graduate of Government and Zoom, it has expanded its online
Law College, Mumbai, Maria rep- menu to include bioinformatics,
resented Maharashtra and India in computational biology, data science,
numerous national and international molecular biology and drug design,
basketball tournaments. In 2014 he protein modeling, proteomics and
was awarded a postgrad degree in genomics among other courses.
sports, media and entertainment law History. A business management
by Georgetown University, USA fol- alum of Bangalore University and
lowed by a second Masters in sports the International School of Business
business by New York University. and Media, Kolkata, Vora began his
Subsequently, he worked with a New career in 2003 acquiring experience
York-based law firm where he repre- in several multinational companies
sented star athletes. (American Online, Ocwen Financial
Direct talk. Shuttling between the Corp) before going solo. In 2006,
US and India, Maria set his sights Vora invested Rs.25 lakh from his
on establishing a primary-secondary Vora: Covid-19 opportunity savings and contributions from
institution modelled on American friends and family to promote SHRM
schools which have successfully inte- olkata-based KUNAL VORA Biotech.
grated sports and academics. “Most is the founder-director & Direct talk. “During my internship
children in India are obliged to KCEO of SHRM (Hindi for with Ernst & Young and my MBA
choose between academic and sports ‘hard-work’) Biotechnologies Pvt. study programme, I became aware
education after class VIII. This is Ltd (estb.2006), a training and skills of the fast growth of India’s booming
why despite its large 1.3 billion development company which offers biotech industry and its rising de-
population, India has a small pool of students — undergrads to doctorate mand for skilled professionals. I saw
globally competitive sportspersons. scholars — short-term study pro- this as a business opportunity and
Corvuss is founded on the belief that grammes in biotechnology, phar- the idea of promoting SHRM Biotech
academic and sports excellence is not macy & life sciences and provides to prepare and skill students for this
mutually exclusive. While Corvuss is research, incubation and placement sunrise industry was born,” says
sports focused, good academic scores assistance. SHRM Biotech is also Vora. Training fees range between
are important to pursue a college the sole company in Eastern India to Rs.10,000-70,000.
education. In high school — classes be accredited by the LSSSDC (Life Future plans. Dismayed by the
IX-XII — we offer the AP (Advanced Sciences Sector Skill Development severe lack of preparedness of state
Placement) programme of the Col- Council) of the Union government’s governments and hospitals to deal
lege Board and prepare students National Skills Development Corpo- with the Covid-19 pandemic, Vora
for the Scholastic Assessment Test ration (NSDC). has ideated and designed online
(SAT) and/or American College The company owns two modern courses for frontline and healthcare
Testing (ACT). Simultaneously, our research and development lab facili- workers, paramedics, and lab
curriculum ensures that all children ties in Kolkata’s Madhyamgram and technicians to collect sample swabs
play several sports in their primary Garia suburbs supported by highly- and real time-polymerase chain
years and specialise in one after class qualified faculty and industry experts. reactions (RT-PCR) training. “Skills
VIII. Once they choose their most Thus far, SHRM Biotech has certified training enterprises need to become
preferred sport, they are rigorously 6,000 students of reputed higher edu- responsive to changing market need
trained to achieve global stan- cation institutions including the IITs, to survive,” says Vora. Moreover,
dards,” says Maria who has funded NITs, SRM, Amity, VIT among other SHRM Biotech is starting online
this unique sports-centred school universities and foreign students programmes in May and June for
through subscriptions from like- from Bangladesh, Tanzania, Nigeria secondary school students to explore
minded family members, friends and and Nepal. career opportunities in the life
private investors. Newspeg. In the wake of the global sciences.
Dipta Joshi (Mumbai) Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata)

88 EDUCATIONWORLD MAY 2020