FOUNDER PROFILE
Lokesh Rajendran
Founder, Epistemica Global
Executive advisor and systems architect with more than 25 years of experience across science, business, learning and transformation, including sixteen years in Saudi Arabia’s national digital-learning system.
EXPERIENCE SNAPSHOT
Prior national-scale work
- 3.4M
- Learners reported in the World Bank’s 2025 FutureX case study (institution and programme count, not individual outcomes)
Figures relate to national programmes he contributed to before Epistemica Global, as recorded in his professional profile. They are not outcomes of Epistemica Global.
CAREER
Where the work was done
- 2026 – present
Epistemica Global
Founder
Founded Epistemica Global as an independent practice focused on human capability, AI transformation and digital learning ecosystems.
- 2009 – 2025
National eLearning Centre (NeLC), Saudi Arabia
Consulting and advisory roles, contracted through Dolf to the NeLC Director General’s office, latterly Senior Advisor to the Director General
Sixteen years of progressive responsibility in Saudi Arabia’s national digital-learning system (December 2009 to December 2025), engaged on a consulting basis through Dolf rather than as NeLC employment, progressing through project, consulting and advisory roles and ultimately serving as Senior Advisor to the Director General, contributing to the national digital learning architecture, AI initiatives, international partnerships and governance frameworks.
Show signature initiatives
- National Digital Learning and Skills Ecosystem: supported the design and leadership of the integrated national ecosystem, contributing to global partnerships and national scale.
- National Digital Learning Strategy 2021–2023: contributed to two organisational strategies and one digital-learning strategy at national level.
- National AI Sandbox for Digital Learning: contributed to the design and launch of NeLC’s AI Sandbox for Digital Learning, featured in a 2026 World Bank study.
- National Open Learning Platform: supported the founding and operationalisation of the national open learning platform and OER ecosystem.
- International relations: supported NeLC international engagement for three years, including representation of the Director General’s office at UNESCO, ILO, World Bank, OECD and DCO forums.
- 2006 – 2009
EdTech Leadership, India
National Programme Director
Designed and delivered an early IT finishing school programme in India and led a national ICT teacher training initiative across India.
- 2000 – 2006
Shiva Analyticals · Ranbaxy Fine Chemicals
Chemist · Territory Manager
The scientific, operational and leadership foundation that preceded national advisory work.
SELECTED WORK
Six areas of experience
Human capability and workforce
- Creative Commons Certificate: first Arabic translation (2019)
Digital learning and skills ecosystems
- National Digital Learning and Skills Ecosystem (2020–2025)
- National micro-credentials policy and framework (2022–2024)
- COVID-19 online learning impact studies: national studies (2020)
- Global benchmarking study of fully online university programmes (2019–2022)
Strategy, policy and governance
- National KPI and evaluation framework for digital learning (2021–2023)
- National excellence standards for four educational sectors (2023–2024)
- National AI governance framework for digital learning (2023)
- National OER policy (2015–2018)
AI and capability transformation
- National AI Teacher Capability Framework (2024–2025)
- National regulations for generative AI in digital learning, v1.0 (2024)
- Blockchain trust and credentials architecture (2022–2024)
Ecosystem strategy and partnerships
- Technology partnerships with IBM, HP, Microsoft, Google, Apple and AWS, formed for the national learning ecosystem as NeLC partnerships (2020–2024); they are not endorsements of, or partnerships with, Epistemica Global
- National university coalition (2024–2025)
Organisational transformation
- Economy-of-scale delivery strategy across government institutions (2021–2024); ROI reported using the Phillips ROI Methodology
ORIGINAL FRAMEWORKS
Frameworks the founder contributed to
Selected frameworks the founder contributed to or developed during prior national and advisory work, available on request. National work is attributed as contribution, and nothing here implies institutional ownership or endorsement by Epistemica Global.
National Human Capability Architecture
Contributed to an orchestration architecture connecting workforce strategy, institutions and credentials into capability systems, during prior national work.
Available on request
Competence Emergence Framework
A five-stage model for structured competency development across institutions and sectors.
Available on request
Sovereign Skills Engine
Contributed to an architecture for national skills development systems aligned to economic diversification mandates, during prior national work.
Available on request
National AI Teacher Capability Framework
AI competency standards and development pathways for educators, contributed to during prior national work.
Available on request
AI, xAPI and Blockchain: Strategic Integration Framework
Architecture work on integrating AI, the experience API and blockchain for digital learning infrastructure.
Available on request
Sovereign Credentialing Architecture Blueprint
A blueprint for trusted, verifiable credentialing infrastructure in digital learning.
Available on request
PUBLICATIONS & RECOGNITION
Citations and recognition
- OECD · 2021Saudi Arabia’s education response to COVID-19 featured in an OECD international publication.
- UNESCO · 2021Saudi Arabia’s national distance learning approach featured in a UNESCO publication on pandemic education responses.
- World Bank · 2025Acknowledged among NeLC counterparts in “Empowering Economic Transformation through Digital Learning: The case of FutureX in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” (World Bank, 2025), the Skills for the Future series case study. Read the study (PDF)(external link, opens in a new tab)
- HP Futures Council · 2025Named Council Member, HP Futures Council on AI and Leadership.
- Open Education Global Conference · 2018International presenter.
Recognition and fellowships
- HP Futures Council · 2025Council Member, HP Futures Council on AI and Leadership (HP and Cambridge Partnership).
- HP–Cambridge Partnership for Education · 2024EdTech Leadership Fellow.
Plays from YouTube after you click.
Authored publications include Anatomy of a CC License and Basics of Copyright Law. Citations refer to national programmes; they do not imply endorsement of, or partnership with, Epistemica Global.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and certifications
Fellowship
- EdTech Leadership Fellow, HP and Cambridge Partnership for Education · 2024
Academic
- Certificate in Public Policy Analysis, London School of Economics and Political Science · 2021
- McKinsey Management Programme, McKinsey Academy · 2016
- Master of Arts (Education), Indira Gandhi National Open University · June 2014
- PGDBA Information Technology, MIT School of Distance Education
- PGDBA, Magnus School of Business
- BSc Chemistry, Bharathiar University
Professional certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI · completed; certificate expiry October 2026, renewal not verified
- ROI Methodology Master Class, ROI Institute · participation and completion
- Certified Benchmarking Professional (CBP), The KPI Institute
- Certified Blockchain Solution Architect (CBSA), Blockchain Training Alliance
- Certified Blockchain Expert, Blockchain Council
- Creative Commons Certificate in Open Licensing, Creative Commons
CONNECT
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Available for
Executive advisory
For governments, national authorities and senior leadership teams shaping capability, learning and transformation agendas.
National capability strategy
For institutions designing workforce, skills, learning and credential systems at national or organisational scale.
Strategic consulting
For complex digital learning, AI governance, ecosystem design and institutional transformation challenges.
International collaboration
For multilateral initiatives, expert panels, policy dialogue, research collaboration and global advisory engagements.
- Executive advisory
- consult@epistemica.global
- General enquiries
- info@epistemica.global
The founder’s personal base is noted in the footer below.