University of Worcester felicitates educationalist and Bollywood actress, Dr. Swaroop Sampat-Rawal with an honorary doctorate to recognise her contribution to the field of education and inclusion

University of Worcester hosts “Celebrating Inclusion” in Mumbai to target students, educators and government to have a wider presence across India and increase recruitment

by Rupali Kahar

Mumbai 2018… The University of Worcester, one of Britain’s most innovative and inclusive universities, which has excellent provision in teacher education, health, biology, sport science, art, law and more, hosted “Celebrating Inclusion”, a gala event in Mumbai to target students, educators and government to have a wider presence across India and increase recruitment. University of Worcester felicitated educationalist and Bollywood actress, Dr. Swaroop Sampat-Rawal with an honorary doctorate to recognise her contribution to the field of education and inclusion. The event was attended by Government Ministers, education leaders and well-known personalities. Shri Vinod Tawde, Honourable Education Minister, Government of Maharashtra was the Chief Guest of Honour and delivered a key note address. Mr. Paresh Rawal, National award-winning actor and Member of the Parliament graced the occasion as Special Guest and cheered for his wife, the ex-Miss India Dr. Swaroop Sampat-Rawal while she was being presented the honorary doctorate. Shri Prakash Jawadekar, Honourable Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India sent a personal message wishing not only Dr. Sampat well but also the University of Worcester in all its endeavours.

Renowned as one of Britain’s best universities for educating teachers, the University of Worcester also launched the new Diploma in Personal Social Education. The University has teamed up with educationalist and Bollywood actress, Dr Swaroop Sampat-Rawal to offer the new in-service training program to teachers through schools. This new diploma will better equip the teachers in delivering life skills to children. The Diploma, which is subject to validation, will be delivered in both India and the UK and is aimed at supporting teachers to develop the needed strategies in both nations to confidently deliver life skills for all children.

Prof. David Green, Vice Chancellor, University of Worcester said, “We are delighted to be working with Swaroop Sampat-Rawal to deliver this important, innovative programme, which will greatly enhance the professional skills of teachers, both in India and the UK, to enable children to develop crucial life skills. At the University of Worcester, we have long championed an approach to education which combines modern scientific, professional expertise with the best in enduring human values. We believe character as well as competence really matters. Swaroop’s imaginative, dedicated development of vital education in life skills for children is inspirational and fits perfectly with the University’s ethos and values. We are truly delighted that Swaroop is the very first person to earn a Double Doctorate at the University of Worcester. First for her excellent PhD thesis and now for her Honorary Doctorate in recognition of her inspiring work over many years in inclusive education and life skills.”

 Prof. David Green further added that, “In 1947, the year of India’s Independence, the very first of the University of Worcester’s graduates began their careers as trained teachers, with the character, expertise and professionalism to ‘win the peace through education’. In the 70 years that have followed Worcester’s teaching graduates have earned an outstanding reputation for their high standards and quality. Amongst the Worcester graduates attending the Celebrating Inclusion conference is Matthew Raggett, the Headmaster of the Doon School.”

Dr. Sampat-Rawal is an alumna of the University of Worcester, having studied for a PhD in Education at Worcester. Her doctoral thesis was on the theme of using drama to enhance life skills in children with learning disabilities. Dr. Swaroop Sampat-Rawal has devoted her life to educating young people in India. Dr. Sampat-Rawal’s work has had a massive impact in India. Dr. Sampat-Rawal has dedicated herself to community development and advocacy, travelling across India training teachers, while also campaigning to get more children, such as those in tribal communities or street children, into the classroom.

On receiving the honorary doctorate, Dr. Swaroop Sampat-Rawal said, “It’s my proud privilege to receive the honorary doctorate and indeed an honour to be recognised for my work towards the cause of education and inclusion. When I proposed to teach life skills in the government primary school in my home state of Gujarat, its then chief minister, and now India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, instantly agreed to my vision and plan. At that point, my focus was on dealing with mental health issues among students, a much neglected and even lesser understood aspect of their academic and social life. I have come a long way with support of the state government, schools and teachers but a lot needs to be done.”

On the diploma, Dr. Swaroop Sampat-Rawal, “I am very excited about this new diploma in Personal Social Education as it will impact the lives of the teachers and students immensely. I am delighted to be working in partnership with the University to deliver this new Diploma. My work in India aligns perfectly with the ethos of the University of Worcester. My work is based on inclusion and ensuring achievement for all, which is something the University of Worcester too is passionate about. The University has a long history of excellent teacher training so who else would I want to work with. This new Diploma in Personal Social Education will better equip teachers to deliver life skills to children which are much needed in today’s world. The Diploma builds on the University of Worcester’s long history of teacher training and its commitment to inclusion.”

About Dr Swaroop Sampat-Rawal : Dr Swaroop Sampat-Rawal is married to actor, director and politician, Paresh Rawal, with whom she has two sons, Aniruddh and Aditya. She became successful with the hugely popular TV comedy show, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, where she played the role of Shafi Inamdar's wife. Dr Sampat-Rawal also won the Miss India contest in 1979 and represented India at Miss Universe the same year.

 About University of Worcester : Renowned as one of Britain’s best universities for educating teachers, the University of Worcester, was founded as an Emergency Teacher Training college after World War II to win the peace through education. It won full University status in 2005 and is now one of Britain’s most innovative, most inclusive universities with excellent provision in health, biology, sport science, art, law and more. The University of Worcester educates over 10,000 students.

The University of Worcester, which was ranked 15^th for teaching and 18^th for student experience in the most recent Times University Guide, was recently selected as the partner of the World Academy of Sport to deliver inclusive teacher education around the world. One of the first programmes to be developed will be with the International Paralympic Committee Academy, the global educational division of the IPC.

The University of Worcester typically educates 50% more students with a disability than the national average. Worcester has one of the best records of sustained graduate employment in the Country, with 97% of Worcester graduates in work or further study within 6 months of graduation. The University is highly successful in securing employment for its graduates who have a disability.

The University of Worcester was rated Silver in the first ever Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017 with assessors, who inspected the educational results for every university in England, finding that the University “delivers high quality teaching, learning and outcomes for its students” and “consistently exceeds rigorous national quality requirements for UK higher education”.