Amalgamation of Illuminating Education and Futuristic Vision - Rohit Dua Patel

"Average leaders raise the bar on themselves. Good leaders raise the bar for others. Great leaders inspire others to raise their own bars."

Q. Could you provide us with a brief overview of your professional background and areas of expertise?

Being an IIM alumnus, I am currently spearheading the Little Flowers Group of Schools in Delhi as the Managing Director. With a background in Computer Science and a PGDM in Leadership and School Management from IP University, I am determined to take my family's legacy to greater heights. With a vision for growth and excellence, I am committed to nurturing the institution's 50-year-old legacy into a shining beacon of global education in a progressive approach.

My seniors' vast experience and insight, along with my future-ready skills, helped me to accelerate the journey of the institution to a much higher level in recent years. I have been a part of the teaching fraternity since 2013. Currently, I am responsible for bringing and reinforcing innovation, experiential learning, STEM learning, digital learning, futuristic approach, etc. at the core of all the strategies implemented here. Apart from a career as a teacher and now as an educationalist and an edupreneur, I have been associated with a few NGOs and I’m working for the upliftment of the downtrodden.

Q. Could you highlight some of your key accomplishments in the field of education?

Our school believes that the rapid pace of technological change demands an education system that is agile, adaptable, and constantly evolving. Traditional methods of instruction, confined to textbooks and lectures, are not sufficient to equip learners with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the 21st century. Instead, education must embrace innovative approaches that leverage technology, encourage creativity, and promote critical thinking. So, I focussed on digitalisation, fostering inclusion, driving meaningful impact, implementing innovative strategies and solutions and social and emotional learning. Future-focussed education is not just about preparing learners for the future; it is about creating a world where they can thrive. By embracing innovation, fostering inclusion, and driving meaningful impact, education can empower learners to become active participants in shaping a better future for themselves, their communities, and the world. The path to future-focussed education lies in embracing innovative strategies and solutions that address the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. These include:

Personalised learning: Tailoring learning experiences to individual needs and interests, using technology to provide adaptive learning pathways and real-time feedback.

Blended learning: Combining traditional classroom instruction with online learning platforms and virtual reality experiences to create engaging and flexible learning environments.

Project-based learning: Engaging students in hands-on projects that connect classroom learning to real-world problems and foster collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Global education: Integrating global perspectives and intercultural understanding into curricula, providing opportunities for international collaboration, and preparing students for an interconnected world.

Social and emotional learning: Teaching students self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making to navigate the complexities of life and build healthy relationships.

Q. What impactful changes or innovations have you implemented in the education segment, and what further advancements would you like to see or implement in the field of education?

Our institution is a true trailblazer when it comes to Sustainable Development Goals. With the belief that sustainable development is the pathway to the future to secure a prosperous, peaceful and liveable planet, we always focus on ensuring environmental protection without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Being educators, it is our moral obligation to take our students' vision to high sights, raise their performance to a higher standard and build their personality beyond through proper mentorship. With the proper amalgamation of futuristic vision and determination, we are incorporating SDGs into the young minds' curriculum.

LFGS, with a student-centric approach, strives to provide a stimulating congenial, cognitive and conducive learning environment. With a fundamental shift from rote learning, the school makes the students look into the intricate nuances of every subject and provides them with a suitable springboard to success. 

Today, our name is reckoned with quality, as we have created a benchmark in terms of holistic development. Our students are garnering accolades for themselves and exhibiting their prowess in every field. We aim to nurture compassionate, caring, respectful and responsible students having scientific temper and global perspective by providing a supportive environment. We strive to inculcate entrepreneurship, life skills, ethical leadership and humanitarian endeavours to create global leaders.

Q. What advice can you give emerging education professionals/fellow educators regarding essential leadership qualities in this field?

"Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out. And when the management leads with brilliance, the list of excellent achievements grows longer and longer.”

Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. A leader is expected to develop core learning skills, take initiative, and learn how to motivate and empower others. If you want to be a pragmatic, perceptive and progressive leader, be supportive and encouraging, have clear communication, and resilience to face the challenges. The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. What a sculptor is to a block of marble, a teacher is to a human soul. So, first of all, employ competent teachers with in-depth knowledge. The teachers who are brimming with innovative ideas to create masterpieces will always demonstrate outstanding skills and interpersonal abilities. You should always put your students first and ensure a conducive environment for them making sure that the latest and best resources for learning are readily available.

According to John F Kennedy, 'Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.'  So, it is important to constantly learn and challenge yourself. Be a critical thinker and foresee potential problems before they happen and develop ways to prevent the problems from happening. One more thing to remember is that a successful leader does not micromanage. Delegate work to reliable persons and let them feel empowered. Let's continue to innovate, inspire, and influence, ensuring our students are not just academically proficient but also empathetic and socially responsible individuals.