In recognition of his exceptional professional and personal achievements, the Council of the City and Guilds of London Institute (City & Guilds) has conferred upon Professor Gerard George, Dean of SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business, its highest award of Fellowship.

Established since 1878, City & Guilds is a leading skills development organisation in the United Kingdom that provides services to training providers, employers, and trainees across a variety of sectors.  City & Guilds has over 130 years of experience in designing qualifications and providing learners with real-life, practical skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace.  Its courses are offered in over 80 countries around the world.

The Council of City & Guilds noted Professor George’s contribution to further research and education.  In the citation he delivered at the award ceremony on 16 April 2015, City & Guilds CEO and Director-General, Mr Chris Jones, described Professor George as ‘an accomplished educator and researcher, and an authority on management and entrepreneurship.’

Professor George’s excellent work in India was also lauded.  These include the founding of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (in 2007) which has been instrumental in forging numerous key research partnerships between the United Kingdom and India, and the formation of the BML Munjal University in New Delhi, which is set to transform higher education in India.

“Gerry believes in using his knowledge to improve the lives of others.  He is working with the Hero Group Foundation to find innovative solutions to key challenges in India including access to healthcare, water and energy.  He is also leading research on the use of new innovation processes to increase social wellbeing, focusing firstly on sanitation in India’s urban slum settlements and providing electricity supplies in rural Kenya… With his determination to find innovative solutions to the most difficult social conditions, Gerry has used his expertise in management and business to improve the lives of countless people,” said Mr Jones in his citation.

On the conferment, Professor George said, "It's a great honour to become a Fellow of City & Guilds.  As Singapore and SMU consider how to invest in and build a Skills Future, it is important to be able to access the right knowledge and training community to make our workforce adaptive and competitive.  Fellows are a very select group around the world who have practical impact in society.  It's a privilege to be part of that group and learn how we can bring some ideas back for us to excel.”

About City & Guilds of London Institute and its Fellowship

A global leader in skills education since 1878, City & Guilds develops programmes of learning, learning technology, certification and assessment, to support colleges, training providers and governments.  City & Guilds has a presence in every further education college in the United Kingdom.  Its qualifications span 26 industries and are delivered through 10,000 training centres across the globe – reaching millions of people every year across five continents.

The Fellowship is the highest honour conferred by the Council of the City and Guilds of London Institute, as authorised by its Royal Charter (1900).  First awarded in 1892, it recognises outstanding professional and personal achievement.  Fellowship is not a qualification that can be earned nor does it form part of a progression route; it is an honour bestowed by Council upon exceptional individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their field, gained the respect of their peers and can be considered role models for their profession.  http://www.cityandguilds.com/about-us/what-we-do/fellowships

[Featured Photo: Professor Gerard George receiving the Fellow of City & Guilds of London Institute award from Sir John Armitt, Chairman of City & Guilds.]