Breaking Barriers in Higher Education with award-winning alumnus Raju Kendre and Dr Subir Sinha
Key information
- Date
- Time
-
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Venue
- SOAS Gallery
- Room
- Room BG01
About this event
We are delighted to invite you to a special upcoming event to celebrate the 2025 Study UK Global Social Action Award winner and alumnus Raju Kendre (MSc Development Studies, 2022).
Join Raju in conversation with Dr Subir Sinha, Director of the South Asia Institute, to explore 'Breaking Barriers: Higher Education Access for Marginalised Communities in India and the Global South' on Monday 22nd June.
The event will take place on campus from 6.00 pm and forms part of Raju’s visit to the UK in collaboration with Study UK, the British Council’s global campaign promoting the UK as a leading destination for higher education and celebrating the achievements of international alumni.
Together, Raju and Dr Sinha will explore the challenges and opportunities in expanding access to higher education for marginalised communities, drawing on both academic insight and lived experience.
The evening will include:
- Arrival and welcome
- A thought-provoking discussion
- Audience Q&A
- Informal networking reception
Join us for this inspiring evening, and don't miss this unique opportunity to meet and reconnect with fellow alumni.
Registration
This event is free to attend but booking is essential.
About the speakers
Raju Kendre
Raju Kendre (MSc Development Studies, 2022) was the global winner of the Social Action award, representing South Asia, in the 2025 Study UK Alumni Awards. This award recognises his exceptional contribution to creating positive social change and improving the lives of others. He is the Founder and CEO of the Eklavya India Foundation, an organisation supporting first-generation learners from tribal and rural communities to access higher education. Since founding Eklavya in 2017, he has led significant impact, reaching hundreds of thousands of students, supporting more than 3,000 into global university admissions, and helping facilitate over $7 million in scholarships. His work is shaped by his own journey growing up in a nomadic tribal community in rural Maharashtra. Connect with Raju on LinkedIn.
Dr Subir Sinha
Subir Sinha is Director of the SOAS South Asia Institute. He studied History at the University of Delhi (BA) and Political Science at Northwestern University (MS, PhD), and has taught at both institutions and at the University of Vermont. His research focuses on institutional change, sustainable development, social movements, and state-society relations in South Asia, with current interests in decentralised development in India, early postcolonial planning, and the global fishworkers' movement.
