Its acquisition of the private higher education provider Universal Higher Education (UHE) and English-language provider Universal English (UE) was backed by THI investments and will provide a “scaleable base” for the group as it eyes further expansion across Australia, it said.

As well as receiving international student, the newly-acquired UHE and UE will be able to collaborate with OIEG’s Digital Institute, as well potentially moving into transnational education, OIEG said.

The group said the deal marks its third such agreement outside of the UK in as many years.

In January, OIEG announced its first foray into Australia when it unveiled a partnership launch with the University of Notre Dame Australia.

Meanwhile, the group partnered with Mercy College in New York in 2022.

UHE is a private higher education institute based “in the very heart of Melbourne” that offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in subjects linked to glbal shortages in labour skills, OIEG said.

Meanwhile, UE’s “broad range of English language courses” will add “another key destination market to OIEG’s English language division… building on its track record in the UK, US and Canada”, it said.

The news comes as The PIE holds its PIE Live Asia Pacific conference in Australia’s Gold Coast this week.

OIEG’s CEO Lil Bremermann-Richard said the group was “excited about the potential of full higher education and degree-granting powers”.

“This strategic move further strengthens our position as a global education platform and creates new opportunities for our students and partners. We are impressed by the combined strength of the leadership team, dedicated teaching staff and management and, in partnership with them, we look forward to enhancing the colleges and offering the best possible learning experience for students.”

We look forward to working together to grow our presence and impact in the region and beyond

Neil Fitzroy, Oxford International Education Group

 “This is an exciting time as we expand OIEG’s Australasian operations. We share a common vision of delivering high-quality education that prepares students for the future by equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen fields. We look forward to working together to grow our presence and impact in the region and beyond,” said Neil Fitzroy, OIEG’s managing director of Australasia.

The acquisition announcement comes at a turbulent time for international education providers in Australia as the Albanese government scrambles to clamp down on migration and to quell fears on non-authentic overseas students arriving in the country.