Gifted Education & Pedagogical Innovation Lab
Who We Are
A university-based team dedicated to research, innovation, and leadership in gifted education.
The Gifted Education & Pedagogical Innovation Lab is a research-driven academic initiative committed to strengthening India's ecosystem for gifted and talented learners. The Lab brings together professors, researchers, doctoral scholars, and postgraduate students with deep expertise in gifted education, educational psychology, mentoring, and teacher education.
The Lab builds on over a decade of experience leading the national flagship project (2011–2018) on the identification and nurturing of gifted students in India.
Strategic Positioning
We integrate academic rigour with field-tested national experience to serve as a nodal team for gifted education leadership, innovation, and collaboration in India.
Our Foundations
National Flagship Project
Built on our experience while initiating the national level Gifted Education Project (2011–2018) and developing & validating indigenous, multi-stage models for gifted identification and mentoring.
Commissioned by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, this project reached diverse student populations across regions and age groups.
Core Research
Our approach is deeply informed by foundational research like "Nurturing Young Mathematicians: Challenges and Concerns" by Dr. Jyoti Sharma.
This research highlights the 'mathematical turn of mind' and the urgent need for a Need-Based Curriculum Model (NBCM) to prevent mental isolation and underachievement in gifted learners.
Formal Strategic Plan
Vision
"To be a nationally anchored and globally engaged forum of excellence that advances equitable identification, holistic nurturing, and leadership in gifted education through research, capacity building, and collaborative networks."
Aim
To strengthen India's gifted education ecosystem by integrating research-informed identification systems, teacher and school capacity building, mentoring networks, and stakeholder partnerships in alignment with NEP 2020.
Strategic Pillars
Gifted Identification and Assessment
- •Develop and scale multi-stage, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive identification protocols.
- •Support schools in early identification and need-based assessment of gifted learners.
- •Extend identification frameworks beyond STEM to arts, humanities, and interdisciplinary domains.
Teacher and Leadership Capacity Building
- •Design and deliver professional development programs for teachers, school leaders, and counsellors.
- •Prepare teachers as identifiers, mentors, and instructional leaders for gifted learners.
- •Integrate gifted education into mainstream teacher education and in-service training.
Mentoring and Talent Nurturance
- •Establish multi-tier mentoring models mapping gifted learners with university faculty and experts.
- •Offer multi-model mentoring pathways.
- •Develop advanced mentoring for exceptionally gifted learners.
Research and Development
- •Conduct interdisciplinary research on giftedness, talent development, equity, and socio-emotional needs.
- •Produce research reports, policy briefs, handbooks, and scholarly publications.
- •Function as a national R&D hub for gifted education.
Resource Development and Parent Engagement
- •Create evidence-based resources for teachers, schools, parents, and counsellors.
- •Offer counselling and guidance programs to strengthen parental involvement.
Networks and Partnerships
- •Build a pan-India network of teachers, administrators, parents, and researchers.
- •Partner with schools, universities, and government agencies for scaling and sustainability.
Context and Rationale
The National Education Policy 2020 explicitly recognizes the need to identify and nurture gifted and talented children beyond the standard school curriculum. Between 2010–2018, national level pilot initiatives demonstrated that indigenous, multi-stage identification models, combined with mentoring and teacher capacity building, can be successfully implemented at scale across diverse socio-cultural contexts.
The Lab functions as a research-driven, practice-oriented academic hub for gifted education, integrating policy, research, teacher education, mentoring, and stakeholder engagement.
Targeted Outreach & Partnerships
For Schools
We partner with schools to design and implement context-sensitive gifted education frameworks, including identification protocols and school-wide enrichment strategies aligned with NEP 2020.
For Teachers
Supporting teachers as key identifiers and mentors through professional development programs, mentoring communities, and access to research-based tools.
For Parents
Active partners in nurturing giftedness, offering counselling, guidance, and resources to support children's academic, social, and emotional development.
For Researchers
The Lab serves as a research hub for gifted education, offering opportunities for interdisciplinary research, doctoral work, and international collaboration.
For Administrators
Working with leadership teams in building institutional capacity, policy alignment, and sustainable gifted education models within school systems.
For Policymakers
Providing research-driven insights to inform national guidelines and best practices in gifted education across India.
Policy Alignment & Value
Aligned with NEP 2020 and global commitments to inclusive and equitable quality education.
"The Lab offers a replicable university-led model that can support state and national education systems in embedding gifted education within inclusive, equitable, and excellence-oriented frameworks."
Our Commitment
Bridging the gap between potential and achievement through research-informed, inclusive, and sustainable gifted education.
Meet Our Team
Dedicated professionals committed to gifted education
Professor Jyoti Sharma
Lab Coordinator
Research Team
Educational Researchers & Doctoral Scholars
Support Staff
Program Coordinators