What if, just like in the world’s school and in this life’s learning journey, you could have your formal education, especially the higher one, irrespective of your socio-economic or even demographic status, from anywhere, anytime, and anyplace? That’s what Prof Selva Pankaj and Dr Tharshiny Pankaj dreamed. They wanted to set up a business and explored a number of possible ventures before zeroing in on education. Along with his father, Selva, and Tharshiny founded Regent. A decade later, in 2010, they (Selva and Tharshiny) co-founded
Education was the first idea that really worked, for two reasons, says Selva. “The first was that we understood education; Tharshiny taught ICT and Computing in a sixth form college.” The second was that they knew they could serve their community by helping people access higher education. Initially, Selva offered private tuition for £20 an hour. Today, two-thirds of their students are over 30, many working while studying. RCL designed flexible programs—morning, evening, weekend classes, and multiple entry points—so education fits around life.
That same philosophy now drives their global expansion. Regent European University in San Marino opened in 2025 as a fully digital institution, with a second digital university in the United States planned for 2026. In Dubai, India, and Malta, the Pankajs are launching new centres to bring world-class learning closer to students. The mission is the same: a universal education, without barriers of time, place, or circumstance.
Fostering an Educational Empire
At the heart of Regent Global’s meteoric rise is a partnership built not only in ambition but in a shared vision for a better world. As joint CEOs and life partners, Selva and Tharshiny have built an educational empire by leveraging their complementary strengths. While Selva is the quintessential entrepreneur, constantly seeking new opportunities and forging global relationships, Tharshiny is the strategic force behind the scenes.
Her focus on operational efficiency, academic quality, and her financial acumen has been instrumental in building Regent’s robust foundation and ensuring its long-term stability. Their impact as a pair has been widely recognized, solidifying their status on prestigious lists like the GG2 Power List and the Asian Power Couple Hot 100.
A Guiding Ethos
The Pankajs’ leadership and decision-making are guided by a profound ethos: “The end result of education is character.” This principle underpins every facet of Regent Global, from its technological ventures to its global expansion. Their businesses, such as AI Regent, which develops apps to democratize learning, and Regent Talent Exchange, which helps graduates build global careers, are all united by a single thread: “innovation serving people.”
Values-driven Leadership
For the Pankajs, leadership transcends titles; it is about living one’s values and attracting collaborators who share the same vision. “Geography matters less than finding partners who are on the same wavelength,” Selva notes.
This philosophy has enabled them to expand rapidly in places like Dubai by collaborating with local regulators and institutions. They operate with a clear sense of service and integrity, always asking how they can contribute and choosing the right path over the easy one. To ensure every decision is robust, they apply a “governance gate” that meticulously combines demand data, student needs, and partner fit, guaranteeing quality and genuine learner benefit in every new venture.
The Thinking into Character (TiC) Philosophy
For Tharshiny, the heart of Regent Global’s educational culture is the TiC philosophy shared with Selva. They have meticulously translated this abstract concept into a practical, transformative model.
TiC combines “rigorous, outside-in knowledge with inside-out development,” focusing on helping students build resilience, strong mindsets, and positive behaviors alongside their academic skills.
This philosophy permeates the entire institution, from staff development to assessment, creating a culture that raises expectations while actively removing barriers for students who juggle work and family responsibilities. For Tharshiny, TiC is a “promise, not a slogan,” and it is the key to producing graduates who are not only academically proficient but also confident, adaptable, and truly work-ready.
The Future of Learning: Intelligence Augmentation
Selva and Tharshiny focus on the core character of the student, and champion the technological tools that will unlock their full potential. While Selva created the Thinking into Character program, Tharshiny and Selva both espouse the values in it. They believe that technology is poised to reshape the educational landscape, making learning personalized, accessible, and transformational. Their vision is not just about integrating AI, but about achieving Intelligence Augmentation (IA), a powerful synthesis of human and artificial intelligence.
Selva and Tharshiny encapsulate this vision with the formula: NI+AI=IA. This means human natural intelligence (NI) will be enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI). Regent’s VR TedLab at Regent College London will make this a reality. Students are immersed in virtual environments where they can rehearse real-world decisions and receive instant feedback from AI tutors.
This is a practical step toward a future where human judgment is augmented by intelligent tools. In this future, the partnership between the student and technology is a seamless, transformative journey.
A Clear Focus on the Customer
Looking back at their journey, Selva and Tharshiny identify their first university partnership to teach undergraduate degrees as a defining moment. This was the moment their vision of service was realized on a larger scale. For them, every new venture is born from a fundamental question: “What do people need?”
This philosophy is what sets Regent apart. They saw that many people, particularly those over 30 with work and family commitments, were being left behind by traditional education. Their solution was to focus on courses with strong career potential and build in the flexibility that students needed to change their lives. It’s this unwavering focus on the customer that truly underpins their every action, making them distinct.
Leading the Fourth Education Revolution
The world of education is in a state of rapid transformation, and Regent Global is not only adapting but leading this evolution. The Pankajs believe that “if we don’t innovate, we fall behind.”
This is why their new Regent European University in San Marino is fully digital and why another digital university is planned for the United States. They are embracing the Fourth Education Revolution as explained by Sir Anthony Selden by creating lifelong learners who are adaptable and ready for tomorrow’s economy, not yesterday’s.
Their approach goes beyond simply digitizing content. It’s about merging traditional knowledge with their unique Thinking into Character philosophy and hands-on experience.
Every Regent University will feature a Problem-Solution Space™, where students work on real-world challenges with social impact. This ensures that their graduates are not just knowledgeable but are also prepared to lead and create meaningful change in the world.
The Guiding Principles
As joint CEOs, their synergy is the engine of the entire organization. Their leadership is guided by the same core values they founded the company on over 25 years ago: service, integrity, and character.
By living these values every day and embracing distinct roles that reflect their individual strengths, they ensure their shared vision becomes a tangible reality. The demand for equitable, high-quality education is rising worldwide, and Regent Global is meeting this need head-on while maintaining its commitment to excellence. Their mission is straightforward: to provide “education without barriers of time, place, or circumstance.”
This commitment is evidenced by the consistent excellence of Regent College London, which scores significantly above national benchmarks for teaching quality.
Delivering an Excellent Student Experience
The 2025 National Student Survey (NSS) highlighted the strength of RCL’s teaching, student support and its inclusive learning environment. The NSS gathers anonymous feedback from non-final-year undergraduate students across the UK. Ninety percent of RCL students were satisfied with the teaching quality on their course compared to the
England benchmark of 87%. The same percentage were satisfied with assessment and feedback at RCL compared to the benchmark of 81%. RCL also exceeded the England benchmarks for learning opportunities, organization and management, and student voice. The NSS results speak volumes about the quality of education, care and support that students receive at Regent College London.
Making Education Truly Global
Tharshiny and Selva are not content to rest on their laurels. They are actively expanding their physical footprint with new Regent College London centers under development in Dubai, India, and Malta. This brings their world-class learning closer to students in key regions. Simultaneously, they are pioneering a digital revolution.
This year saw the launch of the fully digital Regent European University in San Marino, with a second digital university in the United States planned for 2026. These initiatives build on their success at Regent College London, leveraging key partnerships to deliver flexible, high-quality education on a global scale.
A Vision for the Next Decade
Their vision extends beyond higher education. In 2024, they acquired Gulf Indian High School, one of Dubai’s oldest schools, and are also planning to open a new British Curriculum K-12 school in partnership with Woldingham School, one of the UK’s leading independent schools. This dual approach—addressing both local and international markets—is a testament to their unwavering commitment to providing excellence in education at every level.
The Pankajs have a clear and ambitious long-term vision for Regent Global. By 2030, they anticipate that Regent European University and their university in the United States will be established leaders in digital higher education. Regent College London will be a beacon of excellence across the UK, Dubai, India, and Europe.
Their K-12 schools will be recognized as top institutions in Dubai, and the launch of Regent Hill University will be on the horizon. Beyond their institutions, they envision that AI Regent’s tools will be used by a wider audience, democratizing access to personalized learning for people everywhere.
Their greatest hope is to see Regent alums become innovators and entrepreneurs, shaping a better world. This legacy is what drives them, and they don’t see themselves stepping back from their leadership roles. However, they recognize the importance of passing the torch. As a family business, they are already providing opportunities for the next generation, with their eldest daughter, Sharanie, having joined Regent Global.
True Advice
As changemakers in education, Selva and Tharshiny offer powerful advice to aspiring leaders: be true to your values. The core principles they started with 25 years ago—service, integrity, and character—remain central to everything they do. “We live these values every day,” they state, underscoring their belief that an organization is a reflection of its leaders.
They also advise others to be open to opportunity, particularly those that allow them to be of service to others, as this is the surest path to creating a meaningful impact.
A Legacy of Purpose
Ultimately, the Pankajs’ legacy is not just about building a successful business; it’s about making a profound and lasting impact on the world. Their vision is simple: “to leave the world better than we found it—through education, innovation, and impact.” For them, profit and philanthropy are inseparable.
Their business success fuels their purpose, allowing them to give back through initiatives like Public Learn, the Global Unity Forum, and their work with the World Economic Forum, World Governments Summit, and JA Worldwide.
The legacy of Selva and Tharshiny is a testament to the power of a shared vision. From offering a simple tuition service for £20 an hour to building a global educational force with fully digital universities and K-12 schools, their journey has been one of relentless innovation and purpose.
They have not only built a business but have created a legacy—a legacy of empowerment, access, and excellence, proving that a dream of universal education can indeed become a tangible reality, one student at a time.
