SMRI is redefining sports education with new pedagogy adopted from Formula 1

Kerala-based Sports & Management Research Institute (SMRI), one of the premier sports management and sports engineering institutes in India, has introduced a new pedagogy of learning based on the feature of continuous improvement in Formula One, the playground of the world’s fastest cars. The pedagogy, termed as Formula Ex has taken a four-pronged approach: learn, play, work and invent, which formulates the basic foundation of Formula 1 racing.

The esteemed educators of the institute have developed the pedagogy based on the learnings of Formula 1. This pedagogy successfully adheres to the adult learning principles and suitable for all types of learners. A pool of professional instructional designers, teachers and experts from the domains of Sports Management and Sports Engineering have developed this technique under the leadership of Sijin B T, Sports Management Guru and the founder of SMRI. "SMRI is instrumental in employing a continuous and comprehensive learning and assessment system, which ensure that every aspirant acquires the maximum knowledge, skills, ability, aptitude and attitude essential to excel as a sports professional. The system is simple, well defined and based on adult learning principles," says Sijin.

Sijin B T, Sports Management Guru and the founder of SMRI

SMRI encourages students to take bigger challenges by handholding them and by giving student performance stipend.

In 2013, while studying about motorsports, Sijin realised that the foundation of Formula One is constructed on four invisible basic elements - education, sporting, work and their own explorations. The Formula Ex combines all these four elements seamlessly to ensure the finest learning experience and outcome. had started in 2014, these 4 elements have been adopted as the key foundations of SMRI‘s academic system. SMRI curriculum was prepared based on these elements.

SMRI’s Pedagogy Development Team, which includes industry experts, subject experts, instruction designers, teachers and alumni have successfully integrated the 4 elements into SMRI’s academic system and developed the trial version of Formula Ex in 2018. After trials and errors, SMRI developed new pedagogy named ’Formula Ex’ (Formula for Excellence) in November 2019 and implemented it for 2020 January batch. The four elements work in the following way:

LEARN: Learning from the existing knowledge, where teachers are using ‘Navarasas of Training’ (Nine types of teaching/training) in classrooms to effectively impart knowledge, skills and ability to students. The Navaras are lecture, demonstration, games, simulation games, role plays, case study, storytelling, group discussion and shadowing.

PLAY: Learning by playing using games, imitation and visualisation as tools for learning and development. This helps students to experience failures and setbacks in a most comfortable environment.

WORK: Learning by working. They provide maximum real-life work experience to students through external internships. SMRI, itself initiates a good number of sports business projects to help students to get exposure, experience and expertise. This helps students to obtain constructive aptitude and attitude to succeed in life and career.

INVENT: Learning from explorations such as research, thinking and search for excellence. Different creative thinking methods are employed to find out solutions for existing problems and to create new.

SMRI encourages students to take bigger challenges by handholding them and by giving student performance stipend.

The Formula EX turned out to be a huge success where students presented some inspiring ideas like Professional three-wheeler racing, labour games and the on-road winter games on Road. The project of three-wheeler racing was officially inaugurated on March 10 2020, which had to be stalled after the outbreak of COVID 19.

The learning from Formula 1 helped formulate FORMULA EX19, with the tagline ‘Face it and Win it’. The new pedagogy is prepared based on the following principles for maximising learning and minimising human direct interaction (to keep social distancing).

FOCUS: Every Formula One team focuses on their victory. Formula Ex19 (FLEX19) focuses on the successful delivery of KSA3 (Knowledge, Skills, Ability, Aptitude & Attitude). Every student must acquire these 5 elements as part of our course to become a world-class professional in their domain.

LEARNERS FIRST: Formula EX19 successfully adheres to the adult learning principles and suitable for all styles of learning (Visual, Aural, Verbal, Physical, Logical, Social, Solitary and Naturalistic). It gives maximum learning benefits and helps the learners to enjoy learning.

CONSTANT UPDATING: Formula EX19 follows a dynamic curriculum which is updated regularly based on the feedback of students, educators and experts.

FORMULA EX19 11 TUNING: The course works can be easily tuned without compromising on the performance and outcome based on the specific requirements of the learner.

EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES: Formula EX19 assures the effective use of resources such as time (fast action, decision and outcome), tools (books, IT etc.) and manpower (learner, educator, expert) to maximize performance

INTEGRATION: Formula EX19 perfectly integrates traditional methodologies and modern technology. It blends eastern traditions of knowledge assimilations with western traditions of research and development.

ADAPTABILITY: Like a Formula One car’s tyres are changed based on weather conditions we adopt many activities based on the specific covid19 condition to help learners to get the best experience and exposure similar to that of our campus students.

Team behind Frmula EX 19

Sports & Management Research Institute (SMRI) is the topmost sports management and sports engineering research and training institute in India with the unorthodox learning system. SMRI was started with the objective of making India a Sports Superpower and is managed by Synergians Society, a team of management professionals working to make India number one. The idea of SMRI is originated in the heart of Sijin B T, a crazy sports lover, who transformed many people and businesses with his amazing training and writing skills. The institute believes in the power of sports to transform individuals, families and communities.