Leadership Shaped by a Vision, Strengthened by Conviction.
“Revolutionizing the educational landscape of Eastern India with innovative approaches to nurture children through value-based and internationally benchmarked standards, late Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo created a model for many schools to adopt. His motto, ‘Be the best or different from the rest, the choice is yours’, reverberates in the heart and mind of every student.”
Late Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, Founder-Chairman of the SAI International Educational Group, was a visionary and a man of action. His brainchild, SAI International Education Group, comprises of four institutions namely, SAI International School, SAI Angan, SAI International Residential School and SAI International College of Commerce. In 2019, he was elevated to the status of Minister of State, an appointment by the State Government as the Advisor-cum-Working President to Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan, Department of School and Mass Education, Government of Odisha, with the sole mission to establish 314 CBSE English Medium Government Schools, 1 in each block of Odisha. Dr Sahoo was conferred with the prestigious honorary degree of Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) by the prestigious Utkal University from the Vice President of India in 2021.
In his pursuit of building a happy nation, his work ‘SAI International’, got recognised by the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC). IIMC published a case study on the life of our Founder-Chairman and the journey of SAI International. The case, namely, “SAI International School: In Pursuit of Academic Happiness”, will be taught to all management students who attend the MBA program at the prestigious institution. One of Asia’s finest management institution, IIM Calcutta, has included this case within their core curriculum of management to teach the country’s finest leaders the concept of SAI, the art of entrepreneurship, and education management.
He was honored with the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award by EducationWorld, for his invaluable contribution to the growth and development of K-12 education in Odisha and India for more than 35 years dedicated solely for the betterment of education, its infrastructure and for the promotion of internationalism in school education and leadership in children and transforming the lives of more than 2 lakh children. He was also bestowed with the most coveted QCI Quality Champion Award 2020 for his perfection of processes and dedication to quality education and his contribution towards innovation, digital technology and scientific temperament.
A Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant, a Graduate in Law, armed with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration specializing in Finance and Treasury, and a Doctorate in Commerce, Dr. Sahoo strived relentlessly, not only to acquire knowledge but disseminate it too. In his pursuit for academic excellence and to build a better India through Education, he attained training from the prestigious Harvard Graduate School of Education, US, National College for School Leadership, UK, Asian International College, Singapore as well as other prestigious institutions. He attended LEARNIT, an educational program by the University of Nottingham, BETT in the UK, XSEED School leadership program in Dubai and was part of the FICCI ARISE Delegation to the US.
Furthermore, he was invited by the Govt. of India’s Planning Commission to advise on Model Concession Agreement for Public Private Partnership, with the objective of establishing 2500 Rashtriya Adarsh Vidyalayas. He firmly believed that leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.
He was also an Independent Director of Allahabad Bank, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited and a member of Shri Jagannath Temple, Managing Committee, Puri. Dr. Sahoo, an edupreneur, firmly believed in a working philosophy which primarily rests on the pillars of people and processes, and one which is deeply rooted in the core values of honesty, hard work and transparency.
Acknowledging his relentless passion for education and for making SAI International amongst the top 5 schools in the country and an institution which has been instrumental in bringing about a paradigm change in the educational scenario of Odisha, Dr. Sahoo was honored with ‘ET Now Business Leader of the Year’ as the ‘Education Entrepreneur of the Year 2020’. He also received the lifetime achievement award for “Bringing Innovation in Learning” by Brain Feed, “Odisha Living Legend Award” by Odisha Diary and “Achiever of Odisha” by Times of India, among many other awards and accolades. Moreover, he received commendation from Global Teachers Accreditation from the British Council and Corporate Odisha Award for steering Leadership and Entrepreneurial Values. Dr. Sahoo truly believed that the growth of the state lies on a strong foundation which rests on knowledge, life skills and a resilient value system.
His guidance and teachings will always remain in the heart of each SAIoneer and he will continue to show the right path for us to walk on…