Robert Vilkelis

Background

About Robert Vilkelis

I help organisations bridge strategy and delivery to create sustainable, human-centred education at scale. I’m an education leader specialising in the design and direction of large-scale learning programmes that combine strategic clarity, data-driven improvement, and human-centred leadership. Over seven years, I’ve delivered measurable impact across international education, higher education, and EdTech, consistently bringing together academic leadership, programme design, and people development to drive measurable improvements in student satisfaction, retention, and educational equity. As Program Director at Come On Out – Japan, I oversee one of Japan’s largest cross-cultural learning initiatives, leading 438 international participants teaching over 5,200 high-school students across 134 venues throughout Japan in the past three years. In this time, I’ve led systemic redesigns that improved training satisfaction by 40%, retention by 23%, and increased overall programme recommendation rates to 93%. Beyond operations, I shape long-term strategy, steward key institutional partnerships, and mentor a senior staff team in my role centred on recreating and refining operational infrastructure each year to deliver scalable, repeatable excellence. I use generative AI and data analysis to translate learner insights into policy recommendations and quality improvements. At Multiverse, I coach degree-level apprentices in data and digital disciplines, supporting over 100 learners concurrently through qualifications up to BSc level while ensuring compliance with Skills England and the Office for Students. My role integrates learner development with academic governance, aligning coaching, quality assurance, and performance reporting with national standards. I am a Fellow of AdvanceHE (Higher Education Academy) and co-author of Recharge Your Batteries, a book on sustainable productivity and leadership. My leadership style combines evidence-based pedagogy, human-centred design, and systems thinking, facilitating the way I empower educators to deliver programmes that scale impact without losing authenticity, align stakeholders to shared goals, and position education as both a public good and a strategic advantage. Whether I’m leading in the classroom, the boardroom, or across global teams, my focus is consistent: to create systems where learning thrives and people feel proud to be part of it. If you’re building ambitious educational programmes or looking for leadership that combines operational discipline with vision, I’d love to connect.