Ownership and business model
Global University Systems (GUS) calls itself “a privately owned higher education group” on its investors page but does not name its shareholders. According to Wikipedia, the company was incorporated in the Netherlands as a besloten vennootschap, a Dutch private limited company. The website footer gives a primary address in Amsterdam and an office at Buchanan House, 30 Holborn, London. Aaron Etingen, who founded the London School of Business and Finance in 2003, founded GUS in 2013 and is Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
GUS has grown mainly by acquisition, buying The University of Law, Arden University and IBAT College Dublin in 2015 and FutureLearn in 2022. According to The PIE News (11 May 2026), Brightstar Capital Partners had taken a 50% stake in Arden University alongside GUS the previous year. In May 2026 Arete Education, which Study Group describes as a joint venture between GUS and Brightstar, acquired Study Group; terms were not disclosed. GUS does not publish group revenue on its website.
Institutions it runs
As listed by Global University Systems on its own pages. See the sources below.
Key people
- AEAaron EtingenExecutive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
- VKValery KisilevskyGroup Managing Director
- GNGary NarunskyGroup Chief Financial Officer
- PRProfessor Maurits Van RooijenChief Academic Officer
- PNProfessor Andrea NollentVice-Chancellor & Chief Executive Officer of The University of Law
- PLProfessor Carl LygoVice-Chancellor of Arden University
- BMBashir MakhoulPresident and Vice-Chancellor of University Canada West
- LJLord Jo JohnsonExecutive Chairman of FutureLearn
As listed on Global University Systems: Leadership.
Key dates
- 2003
- Aaron Etingen founds the London School of Business and Finance
- 2013
- Aaron Etingen founds Global University Systems; GUS acquires GISMA Business School
- 2014
- Acquires University Canada West and London Academy of Trading
- 2015
- Acquires The University of Law, Arden University and IBAT College Dublin
- 2020
- Acquires St. Matthew's University, Saba University School of Medicine and Medical University of the Americas
- 2022
- Acquires FutureLearn
- 2026
- Arete Education, a joint venture of GUS and Brightstar Capital Partners, acquires Study Group (announced 8 May 2026)
Questions readers ask
Who owns Global University Systems?
GUS describes itself as a privately owned higher education group but does not name its shareholders on its website. It was founded in 2013 by Aaron Etingen, its Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Brightstar Capital Partners co-owns Arden University with GUS, according to The PIE News.
How many students does Global University Systems have?
GUS says it educates 174,000+ students on campuses worldwide. The figure is undated; an older About us page on its site gives around 80,000.
Which universities does Global University Systems run?
Its institutions include The University of Law and Arden University in the UK, University Canada West and the University of Niagara Falls Canada, the University of Europe for Applied Sciences and Gisma University of Applied Sciences in Germany, Pearl Academy in India and three Caribbean medical schools. Study Group is held through Arete Education, a joint venture with Brightstar.