Taking french education global: GEDU group’s mission to expand access worldwide
The GEDU group is dedicated to transforming lives through education, striving to make a tangible difference in living standards and global access to learning. As part of this mission, we are committed to providing students with high-quality education in the most cost-effective manner possible.
Recognising the excellence and reputation of French higher education, we are working to expand opportunities for students worldwide to benefit from it. Our strategic vision involves establishing campuses for our French institutions in key locations across Europe and Asia, ensuring that students everywhere can experience the advantages of a French education.
Expanding through strategic acquisitions
In October 2023, GEDU took a significant step towards this goal by acquiring Paris-based École de Management Appliqué (EMA). As a private higher education institution, EMA offers accessible and high-quality practical learning, specialising in law, finance, and economics. Courses are available in both English and French, attracting a diverse international student body.
EMA stands out due to its faculty members, who maintain strong connections with industry leaders. This ensures that students receive relevant, hands-on learning experiences while also building their professional networks before they graduate.
A month later, GEDU further strengthened its global educational portfolio by acquiring Schiller International University. Established 61 years ago, Schiller provides students with a unique opportunity to complete each year of their degree in a different international location. With campuses in Spain, France, Germany, and the United States, the university fosters a truly global perspective among its graduates.
Schiller selected Paris as one of its key locations to offer students an immersive experience in one of the world’s most important political, diplomatic, and cultural capitals. This experience provides students with invaluable insights they can apply throughout their academic and professional lives.
A prestigious partnership with ICN
In December 2024, GEDU announced a partnership with the triple-accredited (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA) business school, ICN. A prestigious institution now in its 120th year, ICN operates campuses in Paris, Nancy, and Berlin and ranks among the top 1% of business schools globally.
ICN’s courses consistently achieve high positions in the QS World University Rankings. It is a privilege for GEDU to collaborate with such a renowned institution, supporting its vision of becoming a global leader in business education. We are working closely with ICN to enhance its presence in Nancy and Paris, while also exploring opportunities to launch new campuses outside France in the coming years. These efforts will strengthen ICN’s global footprint and enable it to fulfil its international ambitions.
Strengthening global education ties
As the higher education sector becomes increasingly competitive, it is vital that the right institutions have the platform to expand and offer students a broader range of choices. GEDU is committed to ensuring that French education is accessible to students across the world, providing them with high-quality learning and increased career prospects.
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A critical component of our mission to internationalise French education is fostering positive relationships with governments at all levels. In January this year, GEDU Group CEO Dr Vishwajeet Rana, ICN Managing Director Professor Florence Legros, and I met with Valérie Pécresse, former Minister of Higher Education and Research and current President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France. Our meeting at her Paris office focused on the growing opportunities within the international education sector and GEDU’s plans to introduce French education to high-growth global markets.
Looking to the future
There is virtually no limit to what can be achieved when educational partnerships explore new and exciting markets. By forging strong collaborations, GEDU is paving the way for students around the world to access high-quality French education, benefiting from the nation’s prestigious academic traditions and global outlook. Through our strategic expansions and partnerships, we are ensuring that the next generation of learners receives the education and opportunities they deserve, no matter where they are in the world.
