Gurugram, Mar 20: Billabong High International School, Gurugram, powered by Lighthouse Learning Group, one of India’s most progressive K–12 school networks, today announced the appointment of Dr. Shanker Dutt Bhatt as the Principal of the school. With over three decades of experience in education and more than twenty-five years in international schools across Asia, Dr. Bhatt will guide the school’s educational direction and culture, helping shape the institution into a progressive centre of learning and innovation in the region.
With the appointment of Dr. Bhatt, Billabong High International School, Gurugram aims to deepen its commitment to inquiry-driven education and cultivate a culture of curiosity, creativity, and innovation across the school community. Launched in November 2025, the Gurugram campus marked an important milestone in the brand’s expansion journey. Located in Sector 57, Golf Course Extension, the campus has been designed to offer a dynamic and future-focused learning environment where innovation and creativity are central to learning. As a complete Cambridge pathway school offering the Cambridge curriculum from early years through senior grades, the school is committed to delivering internationally benchmarked education. Under Dr. Bhatt’s leadership, the school now looks forward to strengthening its learning culture and shaping meaningful educational experiences for its learners.
Dr. Bhatt brings extensive international leadership experience, having spent more than two decades building and leading high-performing international schools across China. Over the course of his career, he has worked with several prominent institutions including the nationally ranked High School affiliated with Renmin University of China in Beijing and Suzhou International Academy, where he served as the Founding Principal of their international programmes. In addition to his experience in Principalship, Dr. Bhatt has also contributed to educator development and research in education. He previously served as Executive Director of Teacher Training at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, where he led initiatives focused on strengthening teacher development and building thoughtful, future-focused learning ecosystems.
Dr. Bhatt holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Nottingham, an MBA in Leadership from the University of Liverpool, and a PGCE (International) from the University of Leicester. He also holds a Professional Certificate for Teachers and Trainers from the University of Cambridge. Earlier in his academic journey, he completed a Master’s degree in Mathematics and served as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in Mathematics at IIT Mumbai.
Speaking on the appointment, Sadashiv Nayak, CEO – K-12 Schools, Lighthouse Learning Group, said, “Gurugram is an important region for us and the Billabong High International School campus here reflects our commitment to bringing progressive, future-ready education to emerging learning communities. As the campus continues to grow, strong school leadership will play a critical role in shaping its culture and learning ecosystem. Dr. Shanker Dutt Bhatt brings with him a wealth of international experience in building high-performing schools and nurturing student-centered learning environments. We are confident that his leadership will help strengthen the school’s overall vision while fostering a culture of curiosity, innovation, and global outlook among our learners.”
Commenting on his new role, Dr. Bhatt, Principal, Billabong High International School, Gurugram Sec 57, said, “It is a privilege to join Billabong High International School, Gurugram at such an exciting stage of its journey. I look forward to working closely with our educators, learners and parent community to build a strong curricular and co-curricular culture rooted in inquiry, innovation and values. We will also focus on personalising the educational journey for every learner, recognising their unique strengths, interests and aspirations. Together, we aim to nurture confident, self-aware learners while strengthening the Cambridge learning pathway and creating meaningful educational experiences that prepare children to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.”
Billabong High International School, Gurugram Sec 57 follows the Cambridge Pathway, anchored in the Innoverse Learning Framework, which places innovation at the center of learning while personalising the educational journey for every learner.
Under Dr. Bhatt’s leadership, the Gurugram campus will continue to build on this foundation, fostering a learning ecosystem where innovation and personalisation come together to empower learners to grow as confident, curious and compassionate learners prepared for a rapidly evolving and inter-connected world
