GEMS Seeks University Deals for its Students

Global education provider GEMS Education is seeking to use the sheer volume of students that come through its doors as a means to get them a good deal, when applying to university, via a newly launched UniConnect Programme.

While being promoted in the media as a scholarship programme for GEMs students, the idea seems to more closely aligned to a club card. According to the press release "the programme offers three levels of partnership to universities and colleges — platinum, gold and silver. Each partnership level provides different relationship opportunities for the institution and for families as well".

According to Dino Varkey, the Chief Executive Officer of GEMS Education, the "initiative aims to make access to higher education a realistic choice for all our GEMS graduates. Students can apply to specific scholarships, access financial aid and in some instances receive preferred preference at the university and colleges we are partnered with."

Very simply partner institutions are enticed by the ability to market to a large potential audience, GEMS at the very least to be able to offer another selling point for its schools. Any financial arrangement between GEMS Education and the tertiary institutions is not revealed.

Most club cards like this tend to be a cost to the partner institution rather than the managing company which often makes money from the partnership - or for not for profits, is cost neutral. The financial arrangement does not of course matter whatsoever should GEMS Education be able to secure great deals for its students...

No partner institutions have yet to be announced.