Times Higher Education to acquire the Education World Forum

Times Higher Education (THE), the world’s leading provider of higher education data, insights and connectivity, is proud to announce it is to acquire the Education World Forum (EWF), the world’s largest gathering of education and skills ministers.

The acquisition was announced during the opening plenary of the EWF 2024, taking place today at the QEII Centre in London, UK at which The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, Secretary of State for Education will deliver the opening address. EWF welcomed 120 education and skills ministers last year, with delegations from 114 countries and registrations are even higher this year.

The event, developed with Charles Clarke, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in 2004 and now organised by the former director general of the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA), Dominic Savage OBE, comprises three days of insight and inspiration from pioneers, policy makers and experts, with many sessions given by education ministers themselves as part of an honest assessment of education’s common issues and challenges.

Founded in 1971, Times Higher Education has a rich history of convening prestigious global summits, running over 150 events for education leaders and learners each year, including its flagship THE World Summit Series and Global Sustainable Development Congress. Earlier in the month, it was announced that Times Higher Education had won the most prestigious award for UK businesses, The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2024 in the international trade category. It is one of only 252 organisations in the UK to be recognised by the royal initiative.

Overseeing the integration of the Education World Forum at THE is Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer, responsible for THE’s government division, which works with education ministries across the globe to deliver strategic guidance and policy analysis to help solve the world’s greatest challenges.

The director of the EWF, Dominic Savage, will remain with the company under its new ownership, alongside programme director, Gavin Dykes.

Paul Howarth, CEO of UK-based Times Higher Education, said: “It is with great pride, and an enormous sense of responsibility, that Times Higher Education has taken on the mantle as the custodian of the Education World Forum.

“There is great pride because this is the world’s preeminent gathering of education ministers – the most prestigious and impactful education conference in the world. It is beyond doubt that the global collaboration and exchange of ideas that this event stimulates influence the lives of many millions of young people across the world for the better.

“And there is a sense of great responsibility too. Because we know how important it is to protect the special nature of this truly unique gathering, to preserve its legacy on its 20th anniversary, and to ensure we develop it for the next 20 years with care and respect for its traditions.

“We are most pleased that Dominic and Gavin – having built such an unparalleled event - will stay with us to convene the event for the foreseeable future, working closely with the event’s essential supporters, the United Kingdom’s Department for Education, Department for Business & Trade, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the British Council, and the British Educational Suppliers Association, alongside international organisations such as OECD, the World Bank and UNESCO, and the many ministries around the world who offer their input and support year on year.”

Dominic Savage, director of the Education World Forum, said: “I am delighted that THE will take over the reins at EWF. It was of paramount importance to us that we reached out to a company which recognises the unique nature of the Forum and shares our values and objectives for its future. THE already has a brilliant history of developing global summits for the Education sector, so I have no doubt that EWF is in good hands. I look forward to working together with THE on its future development.”

***ENDS***

Notes to editors    

1. To find out more about the acquisition, or to interview senior representatives from the organisations involved, please email communications@timeshighereducation.com and/or Ben Miller, THE’s PR and communications manager at ben.miller@timeshighereducation.com or call +44 7811 288 477 or contact Claire Baumforth, THE’s Director of Corporate Communications, claire.baumforth@timeshighereducation.com or call +44 7833 234133
2. Empowering higher education by combining data and expertise within a global platform, Times Higher Education helps universities deliver transformative impact for people, places and the planet. We connect the world’s higher education community, facilitate the flow of ideas and talent, and help academics and students fulfil their potential. We are proud to support universities, and believe that together we will build a better, more sustainable future.

For more information visit Times Higher Education or find us on X: @timeshighered @THEworldunirank or LinkedIn 

1. The Education World Forum is the world’s largest gathering of education and skills ministers. Taking place in London over three days, the event provides excellent networking and peer learning opportunities for ministers from around the world to discuss the most pressing issues in the education space. The initial concept for the event was developed with Charles Clarke, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in 2004. The event was organised by the Education Department with Dominic Savage (then Director General of BESA) as an adviser, and later as the organiser. The event has developed over the years to become the Education World Forum in 2011, held at the QEII Centre in partnership with BESA.

For more information visit Education World Forum.