Sindu Aven is the Head of the Content Hub at Zee Learn, the education division of Essel Group of Companies.
Her responsibilities include supervising and producing end-to-end designs for the preschool division (Kidzee) and the K-12 segment (Mount Litera Zee Schools); covering core academics, assessments, enrichment and life skill programs, teacher training and online content. She manages a diverse team of subject matter experts, instructional designers, project managers, design experts, visualizers and reviewers/testers.
Sindu is responsible for product development initiatives including textbook publishing, supplementary learning material, summer programs, interactive white board lessons and online platforms. As part of the leadership team, she helps craft the vision of the company and evaluates new products and processes for acquisition and implementation.
An MA in English Language and Literature from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, Sindu holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Mumbai, which awarded her a Gold Medal for her performance. She cleared the State Eligibility Test for Lectureship in 1997 and acquired three additional certifications: Train the Trainer – Acts India, School Readiness for Accreditation – Quality Council of India and Certification Course for Examiners for School Accreditation – Quality Council of India. Sindu is now a PHD candidate at the SNDT University, Mumbai, researching on the use of technology in early childhood education.
Starting as a teacher at Bombay Cambridge Group of Schools, Sindu continued her academic engagement as a lecturer at S.K Somaiya Junior College, Nirmala Niketan College of Home Science and St. Xavier’s Institute of Education. She worked as a guest lecturer at the SNDT University, Department of Educational Technology and the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies for their MBA courses. While continuing with such academic responsibilities, Sindu ventured in the for-profit education sector with Learnet, a Division of IL&FS, as an instructional designer and content developer. Next, she worked as a Joint Vice President, English Training Division & Educational Research, at MT Educare (Mahesh Tutorials Group of Companies), where she reported to the MD. Prior to Zee Learn, she was with Education and Training Consultancy specializing in various consultation and accreditation projects.
Sindu has worked in the field of child development and education in various capacities. Her proactive role in the Save the Children project, supported by Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, gave her exposure to evidence-based best practices for improving educational achievement in underprivileged children. Her experience in increasing educational achievement vis-à-vis a child’s socio-economic environment enriches her approach in the field of early childhood education, where, along with developmental issues, her emphasis is on involving the family and the community in creating safe, encouraging and fun-filled spaces for children.
An avid reader and a technology evangelist, Sindu is a firm believer in the role of technology as an instrument for increasing the spread and quality of education.
