Born in 2012 from the vision of US private equity fund Providence Equity, Galileo Global Education emerged to transform the landscape of independent higher education. The founders recognized a critical gap in the market: while prestigious institutions existed, there was tremendous opportunity to create a network of specialized schools that could truly prepare students for the rapidly evolving global labor market. They saw that traditional education models were struggling to keep pace with industry demands, particularly in creative arts, business, technology, and health sectors.
What began as an ambitious project has grown into Europe's largest for-profit higher education provider, now encompassing 65 schools and universities across 20 countries with over 300,000 students. Through strategic acquisitions - including the landmark 2016 acquisition of Studialis and the 2020 transition to ownership by the Bettencourt Meyers family and Bpifrance - Galileo has built an extraordinary ecosystem of institutions. From Regent's University London to Istituto Marangoni, from emlyon business school to European University Cyprus, each institution maintains its unique identity while benefiting from the collective strength and resources of the group. Today, Galileo stands united in support of its schools, driven by core convictions: academic quality, employability, innovation, student experience, mental health, and environmental impact. The group operates with the agility of a startup and the strength of a global organization, fully aware that student success depends on collective commitment to excellence.
