Indian President presents Padma Shri Award to Sunny Varkey, Founder & Chairman of GEMS Education

Dubai, April 2, 2009: The Honourable President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil, has awarded Mr. Sunny Varkey, Founder & Chairman of GEMS Education, with one of the country’s highest honours, the Padma Shri award, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Education and Social service. The ceremony was held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Mr. Varkey joins a select list of Global Indians to be honoured with the Padma Shri award for his exemplary services in the field of education across the world, particularly in the UAE where he operates 26 schools. Mr. Varkey manages one of the largest networks of private schools globally. GEMS Education has contributed significantly to the socio-economic progress of the various countries it operates in.

The international network of GEMS schools spans across nine countries providing high quality education to over 100,000 students from 124 different countries employing nearly 6,500 teachers; the largest employer if Indian and British teachers outside their home country.

He is widely recognized as an out-of-the box thinker and education entrepreneur and has been a pioneer in developing an enterprising blend of innovation, customer service and high education brand that has made global headway, GEMS.

“I am overwhelmed by this recognition from the Government of India. Education and social services are extremely close to my heart. I share this honour with the children and teachers of GEMS Schools across the world.

This award would not be possible if not for the wise leadership and vision of the leaders of the UAE Government.

Awards like this motivate us to continue the work we do in the field of education and to focus on initiatives that help provide education to the underprivileged, “Mr. Varkey said

Indian President presents Padma Shri Award to Sunny Varkey, Founder & Chairman of GEMS Education

New Delhi, March 31, 2009: The Honourable President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil, has awarded Mr. Sunny Varkey, Founder & Chairman of GEMS Education, with one of the country’s highest honours, the Padma Shri award, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Education and Social service. The ceremony was held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mr. Varkey joins a select list of Global Indians to be honoured with the Padma Shri award for his exemplary services in the field of education across the world, and particularly the UAE. With a network of 100 schools world-wide, of which 26 are in the UAE, Mr. Varkey manages one of the largest networks of private schools globally. GEMS Education has contributed significantly to the socio-economic progress of the various countries it operates in.

“I am overwhelmed by this recognition from the Government of India. Receiving this from the Honourable President is a great honour. Education and social services are extremely close to my heart. I share this honour with the entire team of GEMS Education, who through their consistent hard work and dedication, has improved the lives of people across the world. Awards like this motivate us to continue the work we do in the field of education and to focus on initiatives that help provide education to the underprivileged, “Mr. Varkey said.

Mr. Varkey received the Rajiv Gandhi Award for Eminent Educationist last year, and has also earlier received the CEO Middle East Award for Corporate Social Responsibility, the Global Indian Business Award and the Most Outstanding Businessman of the Year by Asian Businessman Awards, Middle East – all for his achievements in education and healthcare

Government of India honours Sunny Varkey with Padmashri Award

Dubai, January 26, 2009: The Government of India has honoured Mr Sunny Varkey, Chairman of The Varkey Group, which includes GEMS Education and Emirates Healthcare Holdings Limited (operating Welcare and City Hospitals and clinics), with the Padmashri award. It is one of the country’s highest civilian awards, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to education and social service.

Mr Varkey joins a select list of non-resident Indians to be honoured with the Padmashri, a reiteration of his stature not only in the Middle East but also in India, and across the world.

Mr. Varkey owns and manages the largest network of private schools in the United Arab Emirates and has almost 100 international schools around the world under the aegis of GEMS Education – a company that has contributed significantly to the socio-economic progress of the region.

Mr. Varkey received the Rajiv Gandhi Award for Eminent Educationist last year, and has also received the CEO Middle East Award for Corporate Social Responsibility, the Global Indian Business Award and the Most Outstanding Businessman of the Year by Asian Businessman Awards, Middle East – all for his achievements in education and healthcare.

“I am greatly honoured by this recognition from the Government of India. Education and social services are close to my heart. I thank the entire team of GEMS Education and elsewhere, who through consistent hard work and dedication have improved the lives of people around the world. I share this honour with each one of them. It is awards like this one that allow us to continue the work we do in the field of education in the private sector and to work on initiatives that help provide education to the underprivileged,” said Mr Varkey.