University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate Dr Rashmi Mantri has been awarded the Inspiring India Women (IIW) She Inspires award in the ‘Best Entrepreneur’ category.

Dr Rashmi Mantri received the award for her entrepreneurial journey and achievements in the field of business. She is a computer scientist-turned entrepreneur who has an online training business which includes courses on the abacus, English, and cyber awareness for young people.

Rashmi, who was also recognised at the 100 Successful Women in Business Network (100SWB), credits a lot of her success to UWS and explains how this all came about…

Education of any sort was not really available in my small town in India where I grew up but I always dreamed of further study. Although I never thought that I would get the chance to complete my Masters and then PhD at UWS.

I not only had a fun and enjoyable time at UWS – the Professors and the database research group were so supportive – but I also learned the life skills which are helping me to grow as an entrepreneur every day.

5 years at the University is no small journey and since graduation I have never looked back.

Following graduation in 2013, I worked as an IT specialist, software developer, industry trainer and university lecturer before founding the British Youth International College (BYITC).

The motivation behind this shift can be attributed to my son, Dhruv. My career focus changed completely after one mundane exchange between us turned out to be a life changing moment.

One day when Dhruv was nine years old, I gave him an easy sum to do, and was shocked when he couldn’t answer. It struck me that his inability to calculate this simple sum reflected the actual state of maths skills in a great many children. I decided to change the way he looked at numbers. I started teaching him informally using a humble and ancient device that I myself had used at school in India – the abacus. It took some time, but after learning maths using the abacus method, Dhruv could do sums even faster than a calculator.

Thousands of counting devices have been invented throughout human history, but one has stood the test of time. The abacus is said to have been invented in ancient Babylon, and is still widely accepted as one of the most versatile tools to train your brain for mathematical calculations involving large numbers.

Abacus training teaches children how to calculate sums first on a physical abacus, and then by visualising the board and using their fingers to manipulate imaginary beads. This not only allows them to do rapid calculations, but also stimulates cognitive development, improves memory, concentration and problem-solving skills, and builds confidence in the classroom and beyond.

Dhruv responded to the new method very well and picked up the abacus mental theory in six days. He even appeared on STV’s Live at Five and ITV’s Little Big Shots to showcase his remarkable ability of solving difficult sums in mere seconds, which earned him the nickname “human calculator”.