NCUK and PVBLIC Foundation Formalise Strategic Partnership to Advance Global Education
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Memorandum of Understanding strengthens international education collaboration and builds on PVBLIC Foundation's growing presence in the United Kingdom.
(From L-R): PVBLIC Foundation President of the Board, Kerry Bannigan; PVBLIC Foundation Executive Chairman, Sergio Fernandez de Cordova; NCUK Chief Executive Stuart Smith; and NCUK Commercial Operations Director Brad Johnson. Photo courtesy of PVBLIC.
NCUK has taken part in a series of events hosted by PVBLIC Foundation in the UK, building on a collaboration that began earlier this year and grew through the Transforming Global Education Summit and subsequent engagements. NCUK Chief Executive Stuart Smith and Commercial Director Brad Johnson represented NCUK at the events, which included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NCUK and PVBLIC Foundation.
The engagements form part of PVBLIC Foundation's growing presence in the United Kingdom, with its leadership, including Sergio Fernández de Cordova and Kerry Bannigan, President of the Board of PVBLIC Foundation, working to strengthen institutional relationships and expand opportunities for international collaboration.
Transforming Global Education Leadership Dialogue
On Tuesday 13 October, PVBLIC Foundation convened the Transforming Global Education Leadership Dialogue at 1 Whitehall Place, London, under the theme Building the Infrastructure for Lifelong Learning. The dialogue brought together participants from nine countries, including government representatives, UK and international higher education leaders, entrepreneurs, family-office principals and development partners.
The discussion explored how education systems can keep pace with rapid advances in technology, artificial intelligence and workforce needs, while governments retain ownership of their policies, curriculum, institutions and data. Key themes included sovereign education infrastructure, curriculum modernisation, responsible deployment of technology and AI, skills and workforce alignment, and the steps needed to move from individual initiatives to scalable national systems.
PVBLIC’s Leadership Briefing
On Thursday 15 October, Stuart Smith and Brad Johnson attended the PVBLIC Leadership Briefing at the Houses of Parliament in London. The briefing brought together leaders from government, Parliament, education, media, health, technology, academia, and private capital, reflecting the breadth of sectors PVBLIC aims to connect. This convening explored how the UK's institutional strengths can support country-led priorities around the world, creating opportunities for international collaboration across education, innovation and development.
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between PVBLIC Foundation Executive Chairman Sergio Fernández de Córdova and Northern Consortium UK Limited Chief Executive Stuart Smith at the Transforming Global Education Leadership Dialogue. Photo courtesy of PVBLIC Foundation.
Memorandum of Understanding
On Tuesday, 13 October, following the education dialogue, NCUK signed an MOU with PVBLIC Foundation, which creates opportunities for collaborating with the Foundation on the Transforming Global Education Programme and supporting its work more widely.
The agreement provides a framework for exploring opportunities to connect NCUK's experience in international education pathways and university partnerships with PVBLIC Foundation's global network of governments, institutions and development partners.
“Education is critical, sovereign infrastructure, the foundation for a country’s people, economy and future. NCUK’s decades of experience and global network of universities and study centres present a tremendous opportunity to expand access to quality education. By connecting that expertise with PVBLIC Foundation’s Transforming Global Education programme and our work with governments and partners worldwide, we can advance learning and skills pathways that reflect national priorities, strengthen local capacity and create opportunity both at home and internationally. This partnership is an important step towards turning that shared ambition into action,” said Sergio Fernández de Cordova, Executive Chairman of PVBLIC Foundation.
PVBLIC’s recent engagements in the UK provide a valuable platform for connecting universities, research, education technology, financial expertise and international development experience with country-led priorities around the world. As a pathway provider working with partner universities and Study Centres across more than 40 countries, NCUK welcomes the opportunity to contribute its expertise and international network to this work and looks forward to building on its partnership with PVBLIC Foundation to advance shared ambitions for global education.
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Media contact:
Anna Zvagule, Head of Communications and External Affairs, NCUK
Notes to editors
About PVBLIC Foundation
PVBLIC Foundation is a global institution transforming how societies build the systems that enable resilient and future-ready development. Operating at the intersection of diplomacy, development, and innovation, PVBLIC serves as a trusted platform connecting governments, the United Nations, global family offices, and the private sector to design and implement scalable development frameworks. Built on four pillars (Nature, Technology, Capital, and Multilateralism), PVBLIC has managed programs and partnerships reaching more than one billion people in 125 countries. pvblic.org
About NCUK
NCUK is a leading global pathway provider established by universities to enable international students to access world-class education. With a network of over 150 Study Centres in 40+ countries—partnering with schools, universities, governments, and investors—NCUK provides entry to more than 100 leading university partners, including 11 in the QS World Top 100, across popular international study destinations. NCUK's high-quality programmes are developed to prepare students from over 120 nationalities for success. To date, NCUK has successfully supported over 50,000 students in reaching their university and career ambitions.
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