Hyderabad, Telangana, India, November 2025 — Varunan Balasubramaniam has been appointed as the Chief Learning Officer at ISDC Global, a leading international provider of British education and skills development solutions. In this strategic leadership role, Varunan will drive ISDC’s global learning vision by strengthening academic innovation, advancing curriculum excellence, and building university partnerships that align with ISDC’s mission of empowering learners with Skills for Tomorrow.
Varunan’s journey with ISDC Global spans nearly eight years, marked by deep contributions to building and scaling creative education initiatives across India. Most recently, he served as Vice President – Key Projects, where he led academic partnerships and strategic collaborations with major universities. Prior to that, as Project Head – Creative Education, he played a pivotal role in establishing ISDC’s design education ecosystem by setting up design schools and programs at top institutions such as JECRC University, Yenepoya University, and JAIN (Deemed-to-be University). His work included curriculum development aligned with UGC and QAA standards, staff training, campus development, and industry-academia integration through the International School of Creative Arts (ISCA).
Before joining ISDC, Varunan served as Chief Executive at Annapurna College of Film and Media, where he led the institution’s academic and administrative operations, business development initiatives, and new campus planning. He also held additional responsibility as Interim Dean, overseeing curriculum design and creative program expansion. His tenure at Annapurna was preceded by roles as Associate Dean – Academic Administration and Chief Academic Administrator, where he strengthened academic governance and industry partnerships in creative and media education.
Earlier, Varunan worked as Regional Academic Head & Award Leader for Animation at ICAT Design & Media College, leading curriculum design, faculty development, and international program validation for creative arts. His professional background also includes entrepreneurial experience as Business Partner at GEN Studio, where he co-produced animation projects showcased at MIPCOM 2010, and earlier roles in client management and communications in the Middle East.
A PhD holder in Liberal Arts and Sciences from PDPU, Varunan brings a unique blend of academic leadership, creative industry expertise, and entrepreneurial insight to his new role at ISDC Global.
About ISDC Global
ISDC (International Skill Development Corporation) is a global leader in skill development, higher education, and professional learning, dedicated to building a future-ready workforce through world-class education partnerships. With a presence across multiple countries, ISDC delivers professional and vocational education, corporate training, consulting, and digital learning solutions to empower individuals and institutions.
Guided by the philosophy of Skills for Tomorrow, ISDC collaborates with global universities and professional bodies to design qualifications recognized worldwide. Its integrated learning ecosystem combines technology, innovation, and human expertise — enabling learners and organizations to unlock their full potential through meaningful education and career transformation.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
