Excellence fosters global development and with the progression of human society, it is evidently witnessed that excellence has made many innovative and creative development in the world.
Innovation and creativity have changed the lifestyle of human beings as well as made enormous advancements. However, apart from innovation and creativity, international trade relations played a vital role in global development.
On such parallel lines, today, the integration of international education assists many global opportunities for students. With this era of globalization at the forefront, the education sector must enhance the quality of teaching while promoting the innovative minds of the country. Catering to this need, educational institutions have enthusiastically adapted the international curriculum to empower our youth.
This international curriculum indulges many innovative and creative skills in prime educational hub—Ryan International Group of Institutions is committed to their primary motive, “Excellence in Education and All- Round Development.”
The institute provides a challenging environment for students to foster intellectual, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual growth. The institute believes in nurturing lifelong learners with a vision that education should be experiential and immersive in arts, culture, and international relations.
While working on our latest edition, “Schools Empowering International Education in India, 2022,” we interviewed Dr Grace Pinto, the Managing Director of the Ryan International Group of Institutions. During her interview, she shared her career journey and the inception story of the Ryan Group.
After sharing her journey, Dr Grace also highlighted the Ryan vision, mission, and future strategies with The Knowledge Review.
Let’s slide into the school’s inspiring story.
The Brainchild
With a vision to spread quality education across India, Dr A.F. Pinto, Founder Chairman of the Ryan Group established the Ryan International Group of Institutions in 1976. He is one of the renowned educationists in the country known for his visionary leadership in the education sector.
The institution is considered one of India’s largest privately owned group of schools, offering K-12 curriculum with state, national, and international boards. The group is spread in 18 states and 40 cities across India. In Ryan Group of Schools, 20,000 children pass out yearly and flourish in their careers.
While sharing the story Dr Grace says, “Our motto is ‘Excellence in Education and All-Round Development’, and we are focused on delivering holistic education through the integration of academics and cocurricular activities as well as offering learning opportunities beyond the classroom.”
“All Round Development and growth are embedded in the Ryan Group learning process and since inception, our constant effort has been to reinvent ourselves consistently, nurture inspiring educators and confident global citizen leaders, “emphasises Dr Grace.
A Dynamic Leader
Women have made a difference in various sectors, but in the education field, Dr Grace has made a phenomenal difference by enhancing children’s lives by providing quality education in India.
Dr Grace began her mission of making education accessible and affordable for the children of this country. She initiated her dream along with her visionary husband, Dr A.F. Pinto, Chairman of the Ryan Group.
Being a leader with a clear vision, she provides overall strategic direction to the Ryan group. She has nurtured a team of dedicated educators who consistently make efforts to ensure that the education provided at Ryan is relevant, engaging, and meaningful.
As a leader and a great example to others in the educational arena, she stands tall, donning multiple roles with ease. She has been passionate about teaching, took a keen interest in children’s development, and commenced her journey as a teacher in Mumbai city.
For her noteworthy contribution, today, she is a force to reckon with in the country’s highly competitive and challenging education sector. Her contribution to education and social service has been highly recognized with innumerable national and international awards, honors, and recognitions.
Recently she was awarded the ‘Her Power Award 2022 by the Brand Story’and‘Most Promising Women Leader 2021 by the Economics Times.’ She humbly attributes all her success to Lord Jesus Christ.
In the direction of Ryan Group’s expansion, Dr Grace mentions, “As the demand kept increasing, in the initial years, we opened several state board curriculum schools in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nashik, and Aurangabad and later began our expansion into other national board curriculum schools across the country and then progressed to providing international curriculum as well.”
Adding further, she notes, “We are also grateful for the people and God who blessed us with – the stakeholders, our dear students, the staff, our parent community and all our well-wishers who continue to support us to make education a meaningful and enjoyable experience.”
A Unique Approach
After having a long conversation about Dr Grace’s professional journey in the institute, she also enlightened us about the institution’s vision and mission. She asserts the institute’s vision, “Our vision is to be a premier global educational institution that develops human capital for our dynamic and expanding world.”
While sharing about the institute’s mission statement, Dr Grace says, “At Ryan Group we follow the KASSM approach that lays the context for all our practices, meaning the pursuit of Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, and Social and Moral values. Along with constructing knowledge and fostering relevant attitudes and life skills, we also seek to develop social and spiritual values.”
This is accomplished by ensuring Excellence in curriculum, Child Centred Pedagogy and Implementation of Global Practices in Education.”
Innovative Approach Using Technology
Keeping with the current trends and understanding that education is ever evolving, Ryan Group has ensured appropriate integration and usage of new technology tools and learning methods to provide hands on learning experiential learning, developing entrepreneurial mindset, mental wellbeing and other relevant life skills among children.
In consonance with the New Education Policy, Ryan Group of Institutions have moved toward assessments, focused on conceptual learning, monitoring progress and providing timely guidance to enhance children’s learning outcomes and growth.
To ensure international standards, Ryan Group emphasizes the professional and academic growth of the teachers through organizing different workshops and training that has been provided by experts in the field.
Teachers are encouraged to take different leadership roles to enhance their skills and grow within the ecosystem.
Nurturing International Relations
At Ryan Group, over the years, along with her team Dr Grace has pioneered various national and international events and activities to foster skills among children and help them become confident, well-equipped, lifelong learners and responsible citizens. The Group has been organising the following events annually with participation in large numbers by students from across the country.
International Theatre Festival (ITF)- The Ryan Group was the first in the country to organize the ITF, which has become the largest flagship event in India for school children over the past two decades. Over 12,000 participants from over 30 countries gather every year on one platform to learn about different cultures from around the world, develop friendships beyond boundaries and also foster international mindedness.
Indian Model United Nations (INMUN)- INMUN is India’s longest running student-run simulation specified in United Nations, and the Ryan Group of Institutions initiated it in 2001. INMUN allows students to play the role of diplomats representing various UN member nations, addressing specific issues of current interest through debate and negotiation and attempting to resolve regional and international problems.
The World Scholar’s Cup (WSC)- Spread across 34 countries, this prestigious event was first brought to India by the Ryan Group. This international event strives to raise the bar in group debate, collaborative writing, and general knowledge of literature, science, biotechnology, art, music, and history.
International Cultural Exchange (ICE)- This program fosters a greater understanding of arts, culture, and global perspective among institutions in the United States, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Eastern Europe, and the United Kingdom. Over the past four decades, Cyanites have participated in various educational and cultural exchange programs in over 60 countries.
Ryan TV – A Media Initiative- Ryan Group is the first to introduce students to Media Studies and Film Making through the concept of Education through Lens. A series of short ad films are screened at the annual IAFA (Iceplex Ad Film Awards) by Ryan TV, allowing students to demonstrate their talents. Through its ‘Young Jourknows’and ‘BBN – Beyond Breaking News’ programs, Ryan TV has grown to be a tremendous success.
Sports- The Ryan Sports Club prides itself on providing its students with a world-class platform for practicing and participating in multiple sports at various levels. It has teamed up with the best in the industry to provide them with top-notch training. They have had students reach District, State, National, and International levels, notching up some impressive achievements.
Global Collaboration- The Ryan Group has collaborated with globally renowned organizations to enable thousands of students from the state, national, and international boards to access higher education and receive scholarship opportunities in reputed universities in India and around the globe.
Nurturing Socially Responsible Citizens- To generate awareness among the students and help them develop a selfless attitude, the Ryan Group strongly emphasizes activities aimed at advancing the welfare of society as a whole. Activities such as cleanliness drives, rehabilitation and relief work, health awareness, and elderly care are regular events in the school calendar.
Focused on Skill Development
Fostering future ready skills among children are a critical aspect in education. Ryan Group has a fine balance of academic rigour and opportunities to develop critical thinking, collaboration, communication, listening, leadership skills, confidence and teamwork in their education system. The Ryan Group has been recognised by various entities for their efforts towards shaping the future of the young minds.
The New Education Policy also resonates Ryan Group’s endeavour of developing life skills, creativity, and critical thinking through sports, academics, media studies, environmental awareness, theatre, art, leadership skills, and international exchange programmes with countries across the globe.
Dr Grace says, “We have a legacy of four decades to share and boast of our proud alumni making a commendable contribution in diverse fields such as IT, Banking, Medicine, Sports, Mass Media & Journalism, Engineering and so forth globally. Also, the group has been recognized numerous times for its commendable contribution to education and social service.”
Awards and Recognitions
Ÿ Ryan International Group of Institutions was awarded the Most Respected Education Brand 2022 at the Mid-day International Education Icons (Edition 2) event organized in Dubai from 18th – 20th June 2022 for their outstanding contribution to the field of education.
Ÿ Schools of Eminence Award 2021-22 – By Education World for Ryan Global School, Andheri, Ryan International School – Vasant Kunj, ICSE Malad and Kundalahalli – Bangalore.
Ÿ Education World Awards 2021-22– Forty-Eight Schools of the Ryan Group were felicitated for being in the TOP 10 Category in their respective states and cities.
Times Education Icons Award 2021 – “Leading schools in “Emerging, National and International Curriculum.”
Ÿ ‘Lifetime Achievement Award 2022’ at the 9th National Conference on K12 Leadership and India Schools Merit Awards in association with Education Today in Bangalore on March 12, 2022.
Ÿ Albert Einstein Award” by Asia Africa Consortium October 2021.
Ÿ Shiksha Bhushan Sanman 2021 by Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra during the Matrubhumi Bhushan Award Ceremony.
The Way forward
While envisioning the future, Dr Grace asserts, “We at Ryan Group believe in excellence in education. As a nationwide group, our focus is on innovation, leveraging technological tools and various strategies to integrate the new learnings to ensure that children are engaged in an immersive learning experience.
“We will continue with our efforts to make quality education available and accessible to all. We have collaborated with different entities to ensure that even post K-12, our children have a smooth transition into higher education to pursue their interests, develop their talents, and have a vocation. Our efforts, therefore, are gearing to provide vocational opportunities in education and skill-based education,” concludes Dr Grace Pinto.
