Meet Our Team
Co-founder
Dr. Aishwarya Patil
Dr. Aishwarya Patil has a track record of outstanding success in her career to date. Most recently she has earned a PhD in Gender Equality and Career Progression, awarded by the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast. She also has a master’s degree in English Literature, during which she was top of her class in all courses studied. She benefits from extensive experience (15+ years) of working in various capacities in higher education, delivering results and leading highly effective teams. She also has a proven track record in entrepreneurship, having founded and managed AM Associates to provide EDI consultancy to businesses for 12 years. She has consulted for Deloitte Northern Ireland land and for Apollo Hospital in India. She was a recipient of best teacher award in 2007 by Maharashtra Girls’ Education Society
Critically, Dr. Patil’s unique combination of experience as an educator in the academic field, along with her consultancy and entrepreneurship experience make her exceptionally well placed to drive success for this business. Furthermore, she is an influential thought leader and industry expert, sought out for keynotes, lectures, and leadership positions.
Expert
Dr. Ayman Alzahrani
Expert
Dr. Mehmet Filiz
Dr. Mehmet Filiz is a lecturer in assessment and evaluation in Education at Amasya University, Turkey. He has a doctorate degree in Education from Queen’s University Belfast, a master’s degree in elementary school mathematics education, and a bachelor’s degree also in elementary school mathematics education, the latter of which were both earned in Turkey (at Karadeniz Technical University and at Ondokuz Mayıs University). He is experienced in the development of technology for learning and education, including having undertaken a concept maps project for a learning website and also developed a website to teach mathematical theories to primary school students. As an academic, he is published extensively.
Expert
Ewan MacRae
Ewan MacRae is another education expert with an outstanding academic track record. He is doctoral graduate from Queen’s University Belfast. He also has an MA in Development Education from the Institute of Education at UCL, and a BA in History from the University of Strathclyde. He has a TESOL diploma and a certification in Educational Management. Mr. MacRae has is currently undertaking research examining engagement in England’s state schools. He has served as a lecturer for the University of Reading, and for the British Council in North Korea as a Curriculum Developer / Teacher trainer. For the latter, with his team he won the British Council Cultural Relations Achievement Award 2017 for the work delivered in North Korea. He has a wealth of teaching and education experience and has presented on and delivered educational workshops on the international stage including in Mandalay, Myanmar and in Bangkok, Thailand. He is an accredited Office for National Statistics Researcher and a published academic.
Expert
Dr William Joseph (Joe) Allen
Dr Joe Allen is another very highly qualified and talented academic and educator. He has a PhD in IT and Electronic Engineering and an MSc in Computing and Information Systems both awarded from UUJ. He also has a PGCE from Queen’s University Belfast and a bachelor’s degree from the school of education there as well. He has served as a lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast in the School of Social Sciences Education and Social Work from 2004 to the present day, and he has a broad variety of teaching experience in schools and universities. He additionally served for ten years with Nortel Networks in research and development roles, product and program management, and training delivery. He has a number of published journal articles and conference papers, and his current research interests are focused on e-Learning and multi-media teaching systems as well as virtual learning environments, focused on learners of the future
Expert
Dr. Prasad R Muglikar
Dr Muglikar is a top management health care professional in the Indian health care system. He holds more than 13 years of experience in leadership positions, heading up a variety of medical and non-medical services in first-rate hospitals in India and overseas. Dr Muglikar is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Medical Services at the Apollo Hospitals Nashik NABH accredited hospital in India. He has also served as a director of medical services at the same organisation, most recently in Mumbai, and previously to that in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as well as in Pune, India, before that. Dr Muglikar also benefits from several years of experience lecturing medical college students and guiding them on research projects. He has an MBBS from BAMU University in India, secured in 1996, and a master’s in health service management from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, earned in 2004. As well as being a proven strategic thinker and leader, capable of delivering phenomenal results, Dr Muglikar has a wealth of contacts and industry influence in the medical sector in India and beyond. This will enable him to progress Astral Education services in this country, and specifically in the health care sector.
