Global University Systems

Global University Systems
BV
Industry For-profit education
Founded 2013 (2013)
Founders Aaron Etingen
Headquarters Atrium Building, Strawinskylaan 3127, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
Website globaluniversitysystems.com

Global University Systems (GUS) is a private limited company registered in the Netherlands. As a corporate group, it owns and operates several private for-profit colleges and universities in the UK, Canada, and Europe as well as other brands and companies in the education sector such as the e-learning platform InterActive. The company was founded in its present form and name in 2013 by the Russian-born entrepreneur, Aaron Etingen (also known as Arkady Etingen). Etingen is its chairman, CEO, and majority stockholder.[1]

History

The company began in 2003 with the founding of the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) by Aaron Etingen. This was expanded to several UK for-profit educational institutions known collectively as the LSBF Group, all owned by Etingen and including the London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA) and the LSBF School of English. After the market reforms of post-secondary education introduced by UK higher education minister David Willetts in 2011, the LSBF group rapidly expanded its student numbers. Etingen added St Patrick's College, London to his portfolio when his company Interactive World Wide Limited purchased the college in 2012.[1][2][3]

Following a restructuring of his holdings in late 2012, Etingen established Global University Systems in 2013. It is incorporated in the Netherlands as a Besloten vennootschap (or BV) and in turn became the owner of the LSBF Group institutions and St Patrick's College through Dutch holding companies. According to John Morgan writing in Times Higher Education, the "BV" structure (equivalent to a private limited liability company), has also been used by other companies which operate in multiple countries, such as Starbucks. Morgan noted that the Netherlands does not require company accounts to be made publicly available and has a tax regime regarded as favourable.[4] GUS's expansion continued over the next two years with the acquisition of the German business school GISMA in 2013 and both University Canada West and London's University of Law in 2015. All three were in financial difficulty at the time of their acquisition.[5][6][7]

In September 2015 Global University Systems announced plans for a two-year restructuring process of the group set to begin in mid-2016. According to John Cox, former director of organisational development at GUS, the plan involves LSBF and its LCCA division coming under a new vocational entity offering only diploma courses, short courses and corporate training products. The vocational courses delivered by St Patrick's College and the Birmingham-based Finance Business Training would also come under this division. The University of Law would become sole provider of academic qualifications and professional qualifications, including the master's degrees previously offered by the LSBF Group.[8]

GUS expanded its UK holdings in August 2016 when it acquired the distance and blended learning institution Arden University from Capella Education. It moved into Ireland in November 2016 with the acquisition of IBAT College Dublin.[9][10]

Principal subsidiaries

Canada

Germany

Ireland

United Kingdom

References

  1. 1 2 Malik, Shiv; McGettigan, Andrew; Domokos, John (30 May 2014), "Lecturers claim private college puts profits first". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Morgan, John (3 September 2015). "LSBF licence to sponsor overseas students suspended". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. ↑ Morgan, John (2 July 2014). "Director of education wins claim against former owner of St Patrick's College for unfair dismissal". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Morgan, John (17 April 2014)."Private college goes Dutch but says profits are taxed in UK". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  5. ↑ Bradshaw, Della (5 September 2013). "Gisma rescued by for-profit education company". Financial Times. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  6. ↑ Morgan, John (2 June 2015). "University of Law sold to Global University Systems". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  7. ↑ Law Society Gazette (8 June 2015). "An education in bad publicity". Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  8. ↑ Custer, Sara (25 September 2015). "Global University Systems to restructure". The Pie (Professionals in International Education). Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  9. ↑ PRNewswire (3 November 2016). "Global University Systems Acquires IBAT College Dublin"
  10. ↑ Morgan, John (19 August 2016). "Arden University sold to Global University Systems", Times Higher Education. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Lyons, Tom (23 December 2013). "Ibat college in deal with private education provider Global University Systems". The Irish Times
  12. ↑ Custer, Sara (17 July 2013. "LSBF rebrands English school chain". The Pie (Professionals in International Education). Retrieved 5 May 2016.
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