Top Higher Education Companies

The global higher education industry is highly competitive, characterized by the presence of both well-established academic institutions and emerging education technology companies. A key example in 2024 is the collaboration between 2U Inc. and Google, announced in February 2024, aimed at expanding access to Google Career Certificates through top-tier universities globally. This initiative reflects the trend of merging traditional degree programs with career-relevant, skill-based training, meeting the evolving demands of the modern workforce.

• Aula Education (Founded in 2016): Aula Education, based in the UK, was established with the mission to transform the student learning experience by replacing outdated learning management systems (LMS) with an interactive, community-based digital campus. Its platform focuses on engagement-first learning and helps universities create more inclusive and collaborative environments. Aula aims to bridge the gap between students and educators by offering real-time communication, integrated learning tools, and personalized feedback mechanisms that enhance the digital classroom experience.

• InStride (Founded in 2019): InStride, a U.S.-based startup, was founded with the goal of enabling employers to offer strategic workforce education through partnerships with global academic institutions. It helps businesses create career-focused education paths for their employees, boosting upskilling and retention. InStride collaborates with companies like Aramark and Magna International to deliver tailored programs that align with specific job roles, offering degrees and certifications that blend corporate objectives with academic excellence.

Top Player’s Company Profile

• Coursera Inc.

• Udemy Inc.

• BYJU’S

• Pearson plc

• 2U Inc.

• Aula Education

• InStride

• Google for Education

• Blackboard Inc.

• LinkedIn Learning

• Skillshare Inc.

• edX (owned by 2U Inc.)