Rajesh Awasthi

Brainstormer, Change Agent, Concerned citizen, Educator/Teacher, Environmentalist, Idea generator

I am a Management Postgraduate in HR (Training & Development) and also possess M.Phil in Geography with specialization in Regional Planning. I completed my post-graduation in Geography from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidayalya, Indore, securing first position in the University. I have 25 years of experience of teaching and academic administration. Presently I am heading Choithram School, Manik Bagh and Choithram Institute of Educational Research & Training, Indore as the Principal. I have conducted more than 75 workshops on Curriculum Assessment, Teaching Methodologies, Leadership for Principals, teachers, students and the personnel of corporate sector at the state and national level. I have been invited by various institutions and organizations to deliver special lectures on Communication Skills, Personality Development, Career Counseling, Motivation and Educational Philosophy & Practices. I am a certified Mentor for implementation of the CCE (Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation programme of CBSE, the national examination board of India as well as a member of the Resource Group of CBSE on CCE. I am serving as City Co-ordinator for various competitive examinations conducted by CBSE since last three years. I am working in the area of ‘Total Quality Management’ in Education and have developed 15 Modules for ‘Teacher Skill Development Programme’. I have also developed Self-Assessment tool for Inter-cultural competencies through Exchange Programmes. I have attended International Conference-‘4th Annual Spectrum of Education’ organised by AFS Intercultural Programs Turkey held in Istanbul, Turkey in April, 2015. I was invited by La Fondazione Intercultura onlus, Italy to present a case study of intercultural assessment practiced at Choithram School in Forum on lnter-cultural learning and Exchange in the month of October 2015. I have conducted an orientation workshop for students and teachers at Indian School-Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in June 2016. I have attended VII Forum of Intercultural Learning and Exchange organized by La Fondazione Intercultura onlus, Italy on ‘Intercultural learning in classroom’, in November 2016. I have presented and published more than 10 research papers in Geography and Education Management at various conferences at national and international levels. I have also worked as Research Scholar for UGC sponsored Research Project. I have successfully implemented innovative approaches in teaching like Vertical grouping, Problem Based Learning and Interdisciplinary Learning in the school. I have also established an E-Cell at school level to hone the potential of budding entrepreneurs. I was honoured with ‘Innovative Teacher Award’ on my presentation ‘Developmental Discipline’ under the aegis of Ministry of Human Resource & Development and ‘Best Presentation Award’ on ‘Strategic Leadership’ at IIM, Ahmedabad, (the most prestigious Management Institute of the Country) at a workshop for Schools Principals. I also received the ‘Young Administrator's Award’ at the conference of Maharashtra Professional Education Forum, Mumbai as well as the British Council International School Award 2014-17 and 2017-2020 for ‘Leading the Integration of International Learning in the School’. At the social front, I am an active member of the Rotary Club. Being associated with Rotary International, I have conducted various Youth Leadership Programs (RYLA) and have served as Chairman, Rotaract, District 3040 of Rotary International Indore Uptown. I am also an active member of Rotary international’s ‘Artificial Limb Distribution Campaign’.

I believe in giving my students ‘lessons of life’ in their schooling years to enable them to emerge as fine individuals who can spread their wings and soar high. I strongly advocate ‘teacher empowerment’ as teachers can bring about a change in the mindset of our students, the ‘harbingers of tomorrow’. Having passion in training, I conduct workshops for Principals, teachers and students at the city, national and international level. Believing in the motto ‘The world is a family’, I try to give exposure to my students wherein international dimension is integrated and they are able to immerse themselves in intercultural learning. The school students carry out online projects with schools of different countries wherein activities of global academic standards are being conducted. To channelize the energy of the students in the right direction, I have introduced various clubs in the school whereby children are able to participate in their area of interest. The Eco Club and the Community Service Club enable the students to be sensitized towards the environment and the community. Introduction of project based learning as well as interdisciplinary approach has enabled the young learners to face real life situations with confidence. To enable my students to come closer to the community and environment, I have assisted them in setting up a business enterprise in the school which they run independently and use the profits for a charitable cause. I have established a Department of Intercultural Learning, the first in the country to equip the students with requisite skills to develop intercultural competence.

Entrepreneurship, Leadership