Professor Selva Pankaj: Rewriting the Rules of Education
Proving that the right mindset can rebuild lives, businesses, and education itself.
What if every obstacle exists to prepare you, not prevent you? Professor Selva Pankaj understands this better than most. At the age of 19, he left war-torn Sri Lanka and arrived in the United Kingdom with no safety net, no financial advantage, only a fierce sense of purpose. That mindset formed every step of his journey.
He began his career in investment management, rising through the ranks at leading firms. But over time, one idea kept returning: education as a vehicle for building not just knowledge, but character, leadership, and confidence.
In 2009, he made a decisive shift. Selva transitioned into full-time leadership at Regent, the business he had founded in 1999 with his wife and co-CEO Tharshiny and his father. Under Selva and Tharshiny’s guidance, it evolved into Regent Global, a network at the intersection of learning, values-based investment, and economic development.
At the core of this transformation is Thinking into Character, a signature programme focused entirely on personal development. It empowers individuals at any stage of life to think clearly, act decisively, and grow from within. Selva’s approach moves beyond traditional education by nurturing the inner potential that drives real change.
Projecting forward, as CEO and Chairman, Selva is now preparing Regent Global for its next leap: expanding Regent College London (RCL), a higher education business operating in the UK and, from late 2025, in Mumbai as a joint venture. Over the next 12 months, Regent Global also plans to set up Regent Colleges in Dubai, Malta and Chennai. These institutions will come before the pursuit of full university status in the UK. His focus remains on building learning spaces that balance purpose, innovation, and human connection.
Selva is building more than an education brand. He is leading a values-driven movement that demonstrates how belief, mindset, and purpose can reshape lives and transform societies.
Let us learn more about his journey:
A Journey of Opportunity and Access Through Education
Selva arrived in the UK as a refugee with only £100 to his name. Due to the impact of the Sri Lankan civil war, his parents were unable to support him through university. As a result, he enrolled in the course that was accessible to him at the time, chartered accountancy. Becoming a chartered management accountant opened the door to senior roles at globally-renowned companies, including Prudential Financial Inc., Fortress Investment Group, Schroders, and Grosvenor.
Throughout his life, Selva has held a strong belief in the power of education to change lives and help individuals realise their potential. Having been unable to pursue an undergraduate university degree himself, he committed to reducing the barriers that prevent others from accessing education.
His early efforts included offering private tuition for £20 an hour and later establishing Regent Independent College, which offered both A-levels and GCSEs to support students in achieving key academic qualifications.
His goal extended beyond education alone; he was also determined to serve his local community. Regent College London (RCL) was founded in response to the growing demand for higher education among underrepresented groups. From its inception, the College has focused on widening access to education for students who have traditionally faced obstacles in entering higher education. Today, two-thirds of RCL’s student body is aged 30 or above.
Flexibility has been central to RCL’s model. Students have the option to attend morning, evening, or weekend classes, allowing them to balance their studies with work and personal responsibilities. Additionally, the College offers multiple intake dates throughout the year, giving students greater choice over when they begin their academic journey.
Conflict to Contribution
His early journey as a refugee shaped Selva’s focus on professional qualifications, which eventually led to senior roles and global impact, an approach that laid the foundation for a meaningful career and eventually led him to become Joint CEO of Regent Global, alongside his life and business partner, Tharshiny.
His personal history continues to influence his work. The loss of educational opportunities among his Sri Lankan peers due to the conflict left a lasting impression. It has become a driving force behind his commitment to expanding access to quality education worldwide. He strongly believes that education should be made available as widely and flexibly as possible.
Regent European University, approved by the San Marino government and launched in 2025, reflects this belief. As a digital university, it removes geographic limitations to learning. A second digital university, expected to launch in the United States in 2026, will follow the same model. Additionally, new Regent College London campuses will offer programmes in collaboration with global partners such as the University of Greater Manchester and Pearson.
Selva also supports alternative ways to bring knowledge to people. One such initiative is Public Learn, a platform developed by Regent to aggregate free online courses from leading institutions. This platform was presented to the people of Sri Lanka by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2024.
Selva’s dedication to youth development extends beyond formal education. Since 2023, he has chaired the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Sustainability 70 Steering Group (SG70). The group has completed its work, and its recommendations are now with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award team to consider and implement—ensuring the Award is ready for its next phase of growth.
Global Impact of Non-Formal Education
Selva believes that education holds the power to reshape not just individual lives but entire societies. His partnerships with global organisations like the World Economic Forum, the World Governments Summit, and JA Worldwide reflect this belief. In 2024, Regent Global became a Strategic Partner of the World Governments Summit, strengthening its role in global education reform. Recently, Selva also joined the Global Council of JA Worldwide, further deepening his commitment to educational transformation on a global scale.
While formal education is widely recognised for improving health, livelihoods, social stability, and long-term economic growth, Selva credits the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for revealing to him the deep value of non-formal education.
According to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers UK, the Award generated a global social value of $1,408 million USD (£940 million) in 2023 across more than 120 countries and territories. Furthermore, a projected future global social value of $3,712 million USD (£2,447 million) is expected through the continued habits of Award holders. These figures, Selva explains, are a clear demonstration of the tangible impact of non-formal education.
His own academic journey, particularly at Harvard and Stanford Business Schools, offered further insight. Learning under Professor Clay Christensen and Bob Proctor helped him understand the natural laws that influence human behaviour and decision-making. He shares that while formal, or outside-in, education provides knowledge, non-formal, or inside-out, education equips individuals to understand these laws and cultivate the right mindset. Selva firmly believes this kind of education has the potential to transform lives globally.
Choosing Integrity Over Convenience
Selva describes the knowing vs. doing gap as the difference between what individuals understand they should do and what they actually choose to do. According to him, this gap is a common human challenge, often driven by the temptation to take shortcuts or opt for easier solutions. He believes no one is completely free from this tendency.
To address this, Selva emphasises the need for integrity and self-honesty. He consistently reminds his team that doing the right thing, even if it takes longer or demands more effort, is non-negotiable. For him, integrity is the inner compass that prevents individuals from choosing the easier path, even when there is no one watching, because compromising would mean letting themselves down.
Drawing inspiration from Stanford professor and author Huggy Rao, Selva shares that strong leadership lies in making the right actions simpler and the wrong actions more difficult. He applies this approach across all the businesses he leads and prioritises ethical choices over short-term outcomes. For Selva, rewarding the right behaviour matters more than just measuring results.
Driving Change Through Service in Education
As Regent Global celebrates its 25th anniversary, Selva identifies a pivotal moment that shaped his leadership and approach to innovation: forming the group’s first university partnership to offer undergraduate degrees. This milestone marked more than academic expansion; it reflected his deep belief in service. For him, delivering something meaningful to the community remains central to Regent’s mission.
Regent College London (RCL) was established with the goal of opening up higher education to those who might otherwise not have the opportunity. Its focus on student needs and outcomes continues to set it apart. In the 2025 National Student Survey, RCL outperformed the England sector benchmark in every major category, echoing its impressive 2024 results. The College offers career-focused courses with the flexibility students need to balance work, family, and study, a model that keeps learners at the centre.
This same principle of service extends across Regent Global’s other ventures. Through its digital universities, Regent European University and a second planned for the United States, it expands access to learning. Regent Talent Exchange (RTX) is focused on career development and personal growth. The group contributes to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 in numerous ways. By expanding student numbers at Gulf Indian High School, one of Dubai’s oldest Indian curriculum schools, Regent Global is giving more families access to an excellent, affordable education. They are also planning to bring one of the UK’s oldest independent schools – Woldingham School – to Dubai. Regent Institute Middle East is a technical and vocational education and training centre in Dubai and in August 2025, Regent College London launched University Study Centre in Dubai with INTO University Partnerships. Regent Global also works in real estate and tourism in Dubai through Regent Castle and Regent Connect.
Selva’s interest in technology has also led to the founding of Artificial Intelligence Regent (AIR), a venture dedicated to exploring how AI can help solve some of society’s most complex problems. At the heart of all these efforts is a single goal: to serve people better through education, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership.
Learning the Laws of Success
Being mentored by Professor Clayton Christensen played a pivotal role in reshaping Selva’s understanding of personal success and human potential. Professor Christensen introduced him to the idea that the natural laws that govern life are principles that apply to everyone, regardless of background or circumstance.
Selva noted that many people, even unconsciously, believe that success belongs only to those who are luckier, more talented, or better connected. What he learned from Professor Christensen is that success is within reach for anyone who understands and applies natural laws. According to Selva, the key lies in one’s attitude, the way one relates to others, the clarity of one’s goals, and the consistency in working towards them. This perspective, he said, was deeply empowering.
He also emphasised that success holds different meanings for different people. While one of his personal goals is to transform Regent into a global unicorn, what drives that ambition is the opportunity to create a positive impact at scale.
Guiding the Digital Shift with Human-Centred AI
Selva believes we are living in a time of exceptionally rapid technological advancement, particularly with artificial intelligence (AI) progressing steadily toward artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial super intelligence (ASI). He expresses optimism about the future, viewing AI as a tool that can enhance human natural intelligence (NI) and lead to the development of intelligence augmentation (IA).
At Regent Global, there is a strong tradition of using technology to make education more accessible. Building on initiatives like Public Learn, Regent uses technology to extend knowledge access. At Regent College London, the introduction of the first LED immersive VR power wall within an academic setting, part of the VR TEDLab, has further advanced this mission. There, technologies like VR and AR are used to equip students with practical skills and connect theoretical knowledge with real-world applications.
Selva emphasises that technology must always serve human needs and complement human intelligence. This belief underpins the focus of the Universities Global Challenge, a new prize being developed in collaboration with the World Governments Summit, which promotes human-centred AI.
Earlier this year, Selva participated in Stanford’s “Harnessing AI” programme, which reinforced his commitment to responsible innovation. He notes that while leaders do not need to become data scientists, they must guide their institutions through an evolving landscape shaped by disruption, innovation, and opportunity. The programme strengthened his commitment to promoting responsible AI, fostering clear-headed leadership, and ensuring that technology continues to support human growth and purpose.
Forming Minds Through Inside-Out Education
At Regent Global, the guiding principle is clear: the ultimate purpose of education is the development of character. This belief forms the foundation of every initiative led by Selva.
During his executive education at prestigious institutions Selva was deeply influenced by thought leaders. Their teachings on human potential shaped his perspective that, while formal education provides external knowledge, true transformation begins from within. This distinction between outside-in and inside-out education is central to his philosophy.
Selva defines inside-out education as the process of shaping one’s mindset, values, and character. It involves cultivating daily attitudes, building integrity, setting personal standards, and pursuing goals with clarity and resilience. In contrast to academic knowledge, this form of education focuses on self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, and the ability to respond to challenges with determination.
To bring this vision to life, Selva developed Thinking into Character, a transformational learning programme designed to help individuals realise their full potential. Supported by his written works, including Thinking into Character, The Power of Learning from DAD, and The Mindset, the programme aims to bridge the gap between academic achievement and personal development.
He believes inside-out education enhances resilience, ambition, and interpersonal skills, qualities that remain essential in a world increasingly influenced by AI. At Regent Global, both learners and staff have access to this programme, and many have experienced its transformative impact.
Selva remains committed to sharing these ideas globally. Through the Public Learn initiative, he has offered Thinking into Character free of charge to the people of Sri Lanka.
While the choice to embrace these ideas rests with each individual, Selva leads by example, offering the tools, support, and encouragement needed to foster true character development.
Lessons from Philanthropy: Unity Demands Continuous Effort
Selva shared that the most powerful lesson philanthropy has taught him is the ongoing nature of progress. While important strides have been made, there is always more work ahead.
In 2017, he launched the Global Unity Dinner (GUD), a Regent initiative hosted by Selva and Tharshiny Pankaj, aimed at bringing together the Tamil and Sinhala communities in the UK following the Sri Lankan civil war.
Over time, as harmony within the Sri Lankan community grew, the event’s focus expanded to promote peace among all communities. The evolution of GUD reflects a broader truth Selva has come to understand: that the world remains deeply divided, and efforts to foster understanding and connection must continue.
He believes that humanity is ultimately one family. This belief drives his commitment to sharing ideas and values through platforms such as Thinking into Character, Public Learn, and the Duke of Edinburgh International Award. It also underpins his work in empowering the next generation of changemakers through initiatives like the Universities Global Challenge.
A Lifelong Student Leading with Wisdom
For Selva, learning is a daily habit. His team often receives insights and ideas that he gathers from his ongoing reading, which he shares frequently.
While many stop learning after formal education, Selva has continued to study throughout his life. His academic journey includes time at London Business School, Harvard Business School, Oxford University, and Stanford University. He has also drawn lessons from mentors such as Clay Christensen and Bob Proctor, and authors including Napoleon Hill, Wallace D. Wattles, Thomas Troward, and Earl Nightingale. These learnings have had a deep impact on his personal and professional growth.
Selva believes that staying curious is essential to staying relevant. The world offers endless lessons, and in his view, wisdom brings more than knowledge; it fosters kindness, patience, love, understanding, and fulfilment.
He also finds daily inspiration at home. His wife and business partner, Tharshiny, has long embraced the kind of wisdom he has spent years pursuing. Even after nearly three decades of marriage, he often tells their daughters: “When I grow up, I want to be like Tharshiny.”
One Vision, Many Ventures
Despite Regent Global’s expansion into sectors such as real estate, investment, and AI, Selva emphasised that the organisation continues to operate with a unified purpose. Regent functions as One Regent, a principle that ensures its core ethos and values are present across all its ventures, no matter the domain.
There is a clear synergy between its educational mission and its other business activities. For example, in Dubai, Regent’s tourism and real estate initiatives (Regent Castle and Regent Connect) contribute to economic development and generate high-quality employment opportunities, an important pathway for learners completing their education. Its technology-led enterprises are focused on using innovation to address real-world challenges and improve lives.
The Power of Thought and Character
Selva shared a deeply personal story that shaped both his mindset and mission. He lost his father at the age of 36. At the time, he did not fully understand the depth of his father’s words, but in the years since, those ideas have become central to his life and work. His father, Selvanayagam, whose name in Tamil means “richness of wealth,” was financially well-off during Selva’s early years. However, their family lost that wealth after fleeing Sri Lanka during the civil war.
Despite the loss, his father remained confident that they would gain many times more than what they had lost. He believed that thoughts shape our lives and that character defines who we become. One of his father’s strongest beliefs was captured in the motto he coined for Regent Global: “The end result of education is character”. This guiding principle remains in use today.
After his father’s passing in 2006, Selva began to reflect more deeply on those values. His encounter with Professor Clay Christensen at Harvard Business School further strengthened this belief in the power of mindset and character. That realisation sparked a lifelong mission: to share this knowledge widely.
