Times Higher Education takes the helm of Education World Forum

Times Higher Education (THE), a global provider of higher education data, insights, and connectivity, has announced its acquisition of the Education World Forum (EWF), the world’s largest gathering of education and skills ministers.

 The announcement was made during the opening plenary of the EWF 2024 at the QEII Centre in London, UK, where The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, Secretary of State for Education, delivered the opening address.

Last year, the EWF welcomed 120 education and skills ministers from 114 countries. The forum, developed in 2004 with Charles Clarke, the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills, and currently organised by Dominic Savage OBE, former director general of the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA), spans three days of insights from pioneers, policymakers, and experts. Many sessions are led by education ministers, providing assessments of common issues and challenges in education.

Founded in 1971, Times Higher Education organises over 150 events annually for education leaders and learners, including the flagship THE World Summit Series and the Global Sustainable Development Congress. 

Earlier this month, THE received The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2024 in the international trade category, recognising its contributions to UK businesses. It is one of 252 organisations in the UK to receive this award.

Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, will oversee the integration of the EWF into THE. He leads THE’s government division, which collaborates with education ministries worldwide to provide strategic guidance and policy analysis aimed at addressing global challenges.

Dominic Savage, the director of the EWF, along with programme director Gavin Dykes, will remain with the forum under its new ownership. Their continued involvement aims to ensure the event’s legacy and ongoing success.

Paul Howarth, CEO of Times Higher Education, commented on the acquisition: 

“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. This is the world’s preeminent gathering of education ministers – the most prestigious and impactful education conference in the world. 

“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, the director of the EWF, along with programme director Gavin Dykes, will remain with the forum under its new ownership. They will continue to work closely with the event’s essential supporters, including 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. 

International organisations such as the OECD, the World Bank, and UNESCO, along with many ministries worldwide, will continue offering their input and support.

Dominic Savage, director of the Education World Forum, expressed his thoughts on the acquisition. “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 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.”