Ms. Shanthi Menon

Ms. Shanthi Rajan is a senior HR professional with a cumulative 35 years of experience in the industry and academia, having worked as a Senior Manager, HR in industry for 17 years before joining academia in 2009. Shanthi started a career with the University of Stirling in 2019 as Director, Institution Development, a role relegated to Director – IQAD in 2023. Shanthi currently serves as Director, SQA, RAK Centre, having previously held the roles of Director – Institutional Development and Director – Internal Quality Assurance Department for the University of Stirling, RAK Campus.

Since moving to academia in 2009, Shanthi has taught at many universities of repute in the UAE, Vietnam, Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia, including:

• University of Stirling, RAK, UAE Campus: August 2018 – Present
• University of Bolton, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE: October 2009 – 2019
• University of Bolton, Bolt Online: December 2010 – 2016
• ATHE (Awards for Training and Higher Education, UK), RAK Campus: 2016–2018
• Middlesex University, Dubai Campus: 2013–2018
• Wollongong, Dubai Campus: 2013–2016
• BIT Ranchi, RAK Campus: December 2012 – 2015

International Flying Faculty roles include:

• Banking University Ho Chi Minh City (University of Bolton – Vietnam Campus): 2010–2024
• Malawi Institute of Management (University of Bolton – Malawi Campus): 2020–2024
• Western College of Management & Leadership (University of Bolton – Sri Lanka Campus): 2015–2018
• Mantissa College (University of Bolton – Malaysia Campus): 2012

Courses taught over the last 17 years include:

• Strategic Human Resources Management (MBA/Bachelors)
• Strategic Management (MBA/Bachelors)
• Human Resources Management (MBA)
• Managing Change (MBA)
• Leadership and Management (MBA)
• Organizational Development (MBA)
• Management Development and Team Building (MBA)
• Dissertation (MBA/Bachelors)
• Managing People (MBA/Bachelors)
• E-Business Strategy and Models (MSc)
• Research Skills for Business and Management (MBA/MSc/Bachelors)
• Work Experience (Bachelors)
• International Human Resources Management (Bachelors)
• Organizational Behavior (Bachelors)
• Contemporary Management Issues (Bachelors)
• Research Methods (Bachelors)
• Investigating Business Resources (National Diploma Students)
• Introduction to Marketing (National Diploma Students)
• Business Environment (Higher National Diploma Students)
• Entrepreneurship (BBA)
• Human Resource Management (Higher National Diploma Students)
• Organizational Behavior (Higher National Diploma Students)
• Research Project (Higher National Diploma Students)

Shanthi plays a major role in the development of strategies and operational plans that result in achieving the overall objective of the institution to be an academic centre of excellence, working with relevant teams to deliver on the Institute’s Strategic Plan as it relates to Quality Assurance, Student and Faculty Development, international standards of teaching, and student employability. This involves ensuring that systems and frameworks are in place to drive and support integrated planning and strategic development across the institute, and representing the institute in the wider community as required. Since November 2024, Shanthi has been actively participating in cross-country dialogues to co-create a dynamic space for reimagining education, and is currently collaborating with educators from six countries on the mission “Cultivating Higher Consciousness through Holistic Education,” which has led to co-authoring a multi-country dialogue for UNESCO.

A Master’s degree specializing in Strategic Human Resources Management was completed at the University of Wollongong (with MOHESR Equivalency obtained in the UAE), with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership currently in progress at William Howard Taft University, Denver, USA (with Summa cum laude recognition for a GPA of 3.9 out of 4, and inclusion on the Dean’s list). Core areas of specialization and research interest include Psychology, Educational Leadership, and Emotional Intelligence, with 3 Scopus publications to date.

Advisory and professional roles include:

• Advisory Council Member, SIES School of Learning and Leadership Development (SIESSLLD), Mumbai
• Advisory Council Member, Higher Education Forum (HEF), Mumbai, India
• Affiliate Member, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT, UK)
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA, UK)
• Certified Social and Emotional Intelligence Coach, Institute for Social and Emotional Intelligence (ISEI), Denver, Colorado
• Certified ICF-Approved Emotional Intelligence Coach Practitioner, NLP Academy
• Associate (Neuro Linguistic Programming) NLP Practitioner, NLP Academy

The Commendation Teaching Impact Award 2020 (Individual Category) was awarded by the University of Stirling, UK, in May 2020, and the prestigious Academic Leadership Award was received from the Higher Education Forum, India, in 2021. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Teaching and Learning was completed at the University of Bolton, UK, along with a Higher Education Teaching Certificate from the Derek Bok Centre of Teaching and Learning, Harvard University.

Contributions to industry and academia include work with ICQ (International Centre for Quality), Sudan; Petronas, Sudan; ARC International, Ras Al Khaimah; ADS Auditors, RAK, UAE; EMCO, RAK, UAE; Petropack, RAK, UAE; Franke, RAK, UAE; Ashok Leyland, Global; KCG College of Technologies, Chennai, India; St. Francis Degree College (affiliated to the University of Mumbai), Mumbai, India; Pavans Vidya Mandir, Chennai, India; Loyola College of Business, Loyola College of Engineering, and Loyola College of Education, Chennai, India; Hindusthan College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, India; SRM Hospital, Chennai, India; Madras High Court, Chennai, India; career guidance for IAS aspirants, Chennai, India; AIMS, Bangalore, India; Madras Christian College, Chennai, India; ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai, India; Higher Education Forum, Mumbai, India; Dynaspede Integrated System Private Limited, Mumbai, India; Indian School, Oman; Patuck Gala School of Management, Mumbai, India; Kanasrasdornbumroong Yala School, Thailand; K.L.E Society’s Science and Commerce College, Mumbai, India; and Smart Education Group, Dubai.

Invitations as Guest of Honour, Chief Guest, Conference Chair, Reviewer, and Keynote Speaker since 2020 include:

• Christ College, Bangalore — Guest of Honour
• MV Mandali College of Commerce & Science, Mumbai, India — Guest of Honour
• Inderscience Publishers — Reviewer
• Thakur Ramnaryan College of Arts & Commerce, Mumbai, India — Keynote Speaker
• Ismail Yusuf College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai — Keynote Speaker
• Ganpat University, India — Distinguished Speaker

Educational Qualification

Doctorate in Educational Leadership, William Howard Taft University, Denver, USA (in progress)
Master’s degree in Strategic Human Resources Management, University of Wollongong
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Teaching and Learning, University of Bolton, UK
Higher Education Teaching Certificate, Derek Bok Centre of Teaching and Learning, Harvard University

Certifications & Fellowships

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA, UK)
Affiliate Member, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT, UK)
Certified Social and Emotional Intelligence Coach, Institute for Social and Emotional Intelligence (ISEI), Denver, Colorado
Certified ICF-Approved Emotional Intelligence Coach Practitioner, NLP Academy
Associate NLP Practitioner (ANLP)

Research Interests

Psychology, Educational Leadership, Emotional Intelligence

Awards & Recognition

Commendation Teaching Impact Award 2020 (Individual Category), University of Stirling, UK
Academic Leadership Award, Higher Education Forum, India (2021)

Contact

[email protected]