Mathematician Anand Kumar takes class at Super 30.

Mathematician Anand Kumar’s Super 30 is a subject of research now.

The University of East London, in partnership with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), has conducted a case study on the training cradle — known for mentoring students from deprived sections of the society for the IIT entrance test — as part of a research project titled “Exploring good practices in overcoming deprivation in India and UK”.

The Super 30 is one of the three case studies conducted in India and the only one in Bihar. The two other Indian case studies are from Mumbai. Besides, three case studies were conducted in the UK.

The project supported by the British Council under UK-India Education and Research Initiative, is aimed at mapping social innovation strategies in overcoming deprivations in India and the UK.

As part of the study, a team of researchers discussed and interviewed the founder of Super 30, Anand Kumar. The successful students of the cradle were also interviewed to capture their experience in life.

The parameters of the study included how students from deprived sections of the society overcame the obstacles and how their life changed after joining Super 30.

Manish K. Jha, professor and chairperson, centre for community organisation and envelopment practice, TISS, Mumbai, said: “Super 30 was selected as a case for showing how education could make a lasting difference to deprivation. The two case studies conducted in Mumbai were on slums and Hindu-Muslim unity. The study has been completed and the presentation would be made in a couple of days. It would be published in leading journals of the world,” he added.

Expressing happiness over Super 30 being selected for a case study, Anand said: “It was good that people were trying to understand the art and science of Super 30. The students from deprived sections have amply demonstrated that with right opportunity, they are themselves capable of scripting change. The study will encourage students to perform well.”

Earlier, Discovery Channel had made an hour-long documentary on Super 30 and its founder-mentor Anand.

Super 30 has featured in the national and international news media. Japan’s famous actress Norika Fujiwara and its NHK channel have featured the initiative, as has French 24, Discovery Channel and China Central Television.

Last month, officials from the University of Tokyo visited Super 30 and asked Anand to send his institute’s students there for education.

Anand has many a time talked about expanding the Super 30 concept. Last month attending a conference at Doha, Anand Kumar talked about opening a school on the lines of Super30 for class VI onwards, where the students will be trained not only for IIT but also for international mathematical Olympiad and other competition.