Cambridge and HP appoint top EdTech innovators from South and Southeast Asia to global fellowship

The HP Cambridge Partnership for Education EdTech Fellowship seeks to empower visionary leaders who are pioneering solutions to enhance educational quality and access. It brings leaders together to exchange and strengthen knowledge and skills to drive effective change. In doing so, Cambridge and HP also aim to bridge gaps between the government, private and research sectors.  

This year's fellowship cohort, comprising individuals from diverse roles, reflects the rich tapestry of South and Southeast Asia's commitment to educational excellence. The fellows join from Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, and Vietnam. Previous cohorts welcomed fellows from the Gulf and sub-Saharan Africa. 

Meet the Fellows 

Anil Sabale, Divisional Deputy Director of Education, Maharashtra, India  

Anil Sabale leads a team supporting around 80,000 teachers and 14,000 schools in one of India's most populous states. 

Aarti Sonmale, New Business Incubation, HP Inc, India   

Aarti Sonmale has worked in cross-functional teams to leverage technology to solve challenges across India, Europe and the United States.  

Duc Lan Do, Vice Director, Department of Scientific Management, Training, and International Cooperation, Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences 

Duc Lan Do collaborates with international organisations and non-governmental agencies to develop and deliver projects with the Department of Education to support high quality education and explore the role of technology in teaching and learning across Vietnam.  

Fatimah Hashim, Deputy Director, Educational Resources and Technology Division, Malaysia 

Fatimah Hashim and her team of Education Technology and subject matters experts supports around 400,000 teachers and 10,000 schools across Malaysia. 

Iwan Syahril, Director General, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Indonesia 

Iwan Syahril leads system transformation for more than 50 million students, 3.3 million teachers and 420,000 schools throughout Indonesia. 

Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), India   

Joseph Emmanuel and his team develop and deliver exams for around 3,000 affiliated schools, supporting 120,000 teachers and 2.5 million students.  

Timotius Kuswanto, Commercial Business Manager, HP, Indonesia 

Timotius Kuswanto supports strategic projects across Indonesia, from education to financial services. 

Lee Lin Yee, Divisional Director, Educational Technology, Ministry of Education, Singapore 

Lee Lin Yee manages the Ministry of Education work streams relating to use of Education Technology for Singapore’s 600,000 students in almost 400 schools. 

Preeti Hingorani, Senior Education Advisor - South Asia, Partnership for Education, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, India  

Preeti Hingorani works with governments and development organisations on education transformation programmes across South Asia. 

Ramana Saraswathi Perumal, Joint CEO, Tamil Nadu eGovernance Agency, India  

Ramana Saraswathi Perumal is part of the primary technology and innovation body of the government of Tamil Nadu, working on education initiatives and beyond. 

Sindhu Prabhu Dessai, Deputy Director of Education, Department of Education, Government of Goa, India 

Sindhu Prabhu Dessai is part of the team supporting and managing 1,720 schools across the state of Goa. 

Sreekanth Yagnamurthy, Regional Institute of Education (RIE), a constituent unit of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Southern States, India 

Sreekanth Yagnamurthy works with schools across the southern states of India, as well as working nationally. His team teaches at all levels, is involved in developing policy, and supports in-service teacher development. 

Waqas Afridi, Director, Ministry of Education & Professional Training, Pakistan 

Waqas Afridi advises, plans and monitors strategic direction and policymaking across the Pakistan education system. These policies reach more than 100,000 schools and over 700,000 teachers. 

Yeshey Lhendup, Deputy Chief Program Officer, STEM & Innovation Division, Department of School Education, Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Bhutan 

Yeshey Lhendup works on infrastructure development, implementation of ICT education and online platforms across all the schools in Bhutan. 

Empowering education technology leaders 

Over the next five months, the new fellows will engage in an enriching journey that includes online study, coaching, resources, and collaboration opportunities. In August 2024, they will travel to Cambridge, UK for a residential academy held at Jesus College.  

Long beyond their initial study programme, the fellows will be part of a global alumni network of leaders and work together to share insights and develop scalable solutions to educational challenges. The network includes government officials and specialists from 18 countries. 

Ramana Saraswathi Perumal, Joint CEO, Tamil Nadu eGovernance Agency said: 

I’m looking forward to exposure to a diverse group of fellows with different backgrounds and educational experiences. By bringing us together, the fellowship creates a knowledge repository that we can collectively build on. I’m excited about what this means for managing data on real-world EdTech solutions and assessing their effectiveness.

Jane Mann, Managing Director, Partnership for Education, Cambridge, said, "This fellowship continues to highlight the incredible talent and innovation within education systems around the world - bringing exceptional individuals together to build and share skills and knowledge. Our newest fellows are making significant contributions to the future of education, and we are honoured to support them on their journey." 

Mayank Dhingra, Senior Education Business Leader, HP, added, “The breadth and depth of diversity and expertise among this new group of fellows reflects the ever-evolving nature of EdTech advancements. We are excited to see how these leaders will creatively leverage technology to revolutionise learning experiences, making it more accessible, effective and impactful for all.” 

We look forward to supporting these inspiring fellows as they innovate and lead, driving the future of education forward through technology. Stay connected with us for updates on their impactful projects and contributions to global education. 

For more information about the HP Cambridge Partnership for Education EdTech Fellowship, visit edtechfellowship.cambridge.org