Pune city is a distinguished education hub housing the best schools not just in the city but across entire India. Moreover, emerged as the crown jewel of the city of education, Global Indian International School (GIIS) has not only created a niche in being recognized as the best international school in Pune through its unconventional education system and SMART campus facilities but also with its technological prowess it has gained a reputation be it in academics, value-based learning or sports.
In an interview with Insights Success for its edition of the ‘Most Recognized International Schools of India-2022,’ School’s Head of Admission, Neha P. spoke about GIISs incredible journey so far and how they are envisioning its future into the new world.
The highlights of this interview are given ahead.
Please tell us about the saga of GIIS since its inception.
We have come a long way since our inception in 2002.
Back then, GIIS had a small presence at Mount Sophia in Singapore with a strength of just 48 students. In the last 16 years, we have grown to span seven countries with 22 campuses combined in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam and India.
Today, we are a leading international school in Pune offering Indian and International curricula to students from diverse backgrounds.
We, at GIIS Pune, have steadfastly focused on providing an extraordinary education to students from all over the world. In adopting the cultural ideology of “Schools That Learn”, we make each and every member of our community an equal partner in the process of learning.
We have established ourselves as one of the best CBSE schools in Pune by empowering students to take on active roles in their own progress. We uniquely engage them while promoting a culture reinforcing the joy of lifelong learning.
What was your inspiration behind venturing into the business arena?
In 2002, GIIS opened the first campus in Mount Sophia, Singapore with 48 students to fulfil the needs of Indians working overseas in Asia. It was inspirational in itself. We continued our Asian expansion with two new campuses in 2006, in Malaysia and Japan, the 2nd campus in Singapore, and the opening of a new campus in Thailand and its first campus in India in 2007. These new campuses mark a milestone in Global School’s history where it expanded via local partners through joint ventures or franchises.
We opened a 3rd Singapore campus and expanded into Vietnam and Malaysia. We continue to expand our presence in India to meet the rising demand for private schools. These schools enable returning expatriates to easily transfer their children from an overseas GIIS school to an Indian one.
What professional values and qualities do you think parents value in GIIS the most?
With our first campus in the Middle East in Dubai, we positioned GSF as a global group in education. This was a momentous moment. We continued our expansion in India. The endorsement by IFC affirms GSF’s growing brand and reputation as an international school.
GIIS is recognized as one of the Best Education Brands of 2018 by The Economic Times. In 2019, GIIS Smart Campus won the prestigious GAIL Sustainability Innovator Award for its green practices and initiatives. It is our value-driven approach because of which GIIS crossed the 200-award milestone by winning 64 awards in education excellence in a single calendar year of 2020. On the other hand, GIIS Tokyo emerged as the world’s only overseas international school appearing in the top 10 CBSE rankings among the 600+ affiliated schools operating outside India.
What USPs highlight GIIS uniqueness?
First, we have a Renowned International Montessori School with GMP or the exemplary and unique Global Montessori Plus Programme that focuses on the overall development of students. With its magnificent pedagogy crafted by 100+ education experts, GIIS has emerged as one of the top international Montessori schools in Pune. Our outstanding GMP curriculum is a blend of the well-known Montessori methods and modern-age futuristic learning pedagogy focusing on multiple students’ touch points.
This well-designed Montessori approach provides rich learning experiences through the high-quality delivery of the program by our faculty and the facilities GIIS offers. Combined with traditional and innovative techniques, our expert teachers facilitate learning activities that build strong values, life skills and holistic growth of students.
GIIS is the leading Montessori school in Pune with its high standards of the education system. The Global Montessori Plus program has gained immense popularity by offering a blend of traditional and contemporary teaching methodologies. The extraordinary GMP program focuses on developing cognitive, motor, and expressive skills and building values like social responsibility, cultural awareness, and environmental consciousness through the five powerful pillars.
Second, is our GMP plus program. GMP Plus is an award-winning pedagogy that helps students in the preparation for higher education and to be well-rounded future citizens of the world. The Plus in GMP balances the traditional Montessori international teaching techniques with the contemporary ideas that constitute good foundational education for preschoolers.
Third, our expert teachers are specially recruited based on their professional experience in the Montessori curriculum. The teachers are well-equipped with modern teaching methodologies and play an important role in the success of the students. Our superlative Montessori nursery teachers provide a fun, serene and exciting environment that fosters a love for learning with encouraging and interactive activities.
Delivery of the Curriculum is at the heart of Global Indian International Schools at all times. Our highly qualified and skilled teachers go the extra mile to provide flexible and individualized support to meet students’ needs. Our expert teaching faculty uses their depth of knowledge, GIIS technology, and frameworks to give students more opportunities and greater control over their learning.
What are the immersive benefits you provide to your students?
Nine Gems: 9 GEMS holistic framework is one of the best pedagogies offered by GIIS that helps in the all-around development of students. It is a high-powered integrated and holistic approach where learning is more than academics with equal focus on sports, skills and values. This award-winning framework is a combination of Eastern and Western teaching techniques and helps students to explore their creative and entrepreneurial skills.
Extra-Curricular Activity: GIIS, one of the renowned modern Montessori schools identifies the best talent in every child and believes that it should be moulded at a young age. The phenomenal extra-curricular activities offered by the school brighten the sporting skills of the students. A wide range of energetic and dynamic indoor and outdoor activities are conducted under the guidance of qualified facilitators to develop social skills, critical thinking and teamwork spirit.
Co-Curricular Activity: GIIS believes that students need something beyond academics to exceptionally develop their inner skills. The magnificent Co-curricular activities help students discover new possibilities through the skill-based education offered by the school. These extraordinary facilities nurture social integration, boost self-confidence and help them realize their dreams effectively.
Seamless Transition to Primary School: The exemplary Montessori curriculum powered by excellent programmes prepares students for a seamless transition to the Montessori primary school. The pedagogy is well-designed to familiarize students with the subjects taught in primary school so that they can easily cope with the new challenges. Students are given hands-on experience to mould their extraordinary skills of reading, writing, listening, and numeracy.
How do you envision GIISs future?
CBSE – The Most Preferred Curriculum: With an aim to prepare students for the future, GIIS offers a robust and exceptional CBSE education from Grade 1 to Grade 12 at our Balewadi Campus and from Grade 1- To Grade 8 at our Hadapsar Campus. Our expert teachers cover the depth of each academic subject in the CBSE curriculum and encourage students to explore the subjects that interest them the most. In addition, our award-winning 9Gems holistic framework is closely knitted with the CBSE curriculum which leverages not only the students’ academic performance, but the skills needed for a global citizen.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is one of the world’s most popular syllabi, aimed at quality, and depth. The curriculum has a dynamic, practical approach and a flexible framework. With world-class facilities and high education standards, GIIS offers the CBSE curriculum with a variety of routes to academic success and knowledge. Our approach to a flexible and stimulating CBSE curriculum supported by well-crafted learning paths, frameworks, Smart technologies and teaching encourages students to engage with a variety of subjects with true passion.
