Innovation

Applying to colleges and universities generally involves a lot of paperwork. Span International Education has digitized their entire on-boarding and application process so as to minimize their usage of paper. The only time their students interact with paper is when they apply for their VISA.

They hire locally and provide a fair compensation to all their workers. Their offices have access to clean water and sanitation at all times, providing a decent working environment for all employees. They have a liberal paid leave policy to ensure that employees enjoy a decent work-life balance, which promotes better mental health and prevents burnout.

They engage with the local community and sponsor events, festivals, etc. in the office complex, which leads to better visibility, and word of mouth marketing. They also interact with other business owners in the vicinity and work towards fostering a family-like environment at the workplace.

They make it a point to partner with universities in countries like Finland, Austria and Germany which provide higher education to international students for free. That way, students who come from a poor financial background, can also have an opportunity to study abroad and find better exposure. Additionally, they sponsor students who are financially weak and send them to countries like the USA, wherein higher education is very expensive and can cost upwards of ₹ 60,00,000.

Inspiration

The founders saw how expensive a foreign education can be and how awareness about foreign education was limited to a few very expensive options. That is what inspired them to partner with several different countries and make students aware of all the different options they have at their disposal. Keerthana says “free education programs like in Germany, Austria, Finland are very affordable to those who can't afford much of tuition fees.”

They saw the wealth inequality that prevails in our country and decided to tailor their services to each individual student, being particularly cognizant of the kind of education each student is looking to pursue and their financial situation. They even sponsor some students who come from very weak financial backgrounds. Keerthana says “it is such a happiness to see their (the students’) smiling faces once they get their student visas, under our sponsorship.”

They also realized how difficult life can be for students who have just landed in a foreign country where they do not know anyone. This realization inspired them to create an alumni network so that students who have already settled down and adjusted to life in a particular country can help students who are new to that country.

They also saw how some employers penalize workers when they ask for time off for medical reasons or due to family emergencies. This led them to come up with more liberal and thoughtful paid leave policies that put employees first.

Overall impact

Span International Education Pvt. Ltd. has created employment opportunities for people in Thrissur and Kochi. They have become an integral part of the local community by participating in and celebrating their culture. They have created a decent workplace wherein employees do not feel pressured, do not experience burnout, and can maintain a healthy work-life balance. They have committed to the development of their employees. Keerthana said, "last month we had the chancellor of a French university come to our Kochi office and give one to one training to each of our members."

They have made students aware of multiple options in terms of higher education institutions that welcome international students. They have covered all aspects of their students' overseas education journey including Profile Evaluation, University Shortlisting, Scholarship Assistance, SOP Assistance, Financial Guidance, Application Process, Interview Preparation, Visa Application, and Ticketing Assistance. They have sponsored students who would otherwise not have been able to pursue higher education abroad, due to financial restrictions. They have created a strong alumni network so that students who have just landed in a foreign country, have someone that they can look to for help.

They have minimized their dependence on paper by digitizing the entire on-boarding and application process for students. They have committed to installing solar panels and using solar energy so as to minimize their dependence on fossil fuels.

The extent of their impact is evidenced by the testimonials of their students. They have been rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google Services.

Business benefit

Becuase Span International offers incentives to employees over and above their basic pay, employees feel a sense of ownership and dedicate themselves to bringing more and more students onboard.

Because they have liberal paid leave policies in place, they have been able to retain their employees and ensure better employee health and well-being, which has led to a reduction in costs related to employee turnover.

Because they have immersed themselves in the local culture and practices by participating in and celebrating local events and festivals, they have been able to increase their visibility in the region and word of mouth marketing.

Because they have committed to the use of solar energy, they will be saving on utility costs which will improve their margins.

Because they have a hybrid model in place, they can provide counselling services digitally to students who are far away from their offices in Kochi and Thrissur. This has led to increased exposure and coverage, which has in turn led to a larger clientele and increased revenue.

Social and environmental benefit

Digitization of the application and on-boarding process leads to reduced consumption on paper which benefits the environment by creating less demand for paper which causes fewer trees to be cut down.

By ensuring that even students who do not come from wealthy families have access to quality education overseas, Span International creates and promotes equality of opportunity.

By committing to the use of Solar Energy, the business promises to not rely on fossil fuels for their energy needs.

Interview

Keerthana Smitha Shaji, Director - Business & Marketing