A message from John Sykes, CEO, INTO University Partnerships
Partnership as a foundation
Twenty years ago, INTO was founded on a simple belief: that the best outcomes in international education come from partnerships built to last. Not transactional arrangements, but deeply, embedded partnerships, with universities and agents alike. That belief hasn't changed. And in a market that is changing fast, I think it matters more than ever.
Our university partnerships are long-term, embedded into the academic and operational fabric of the institutions we work with. That means when things get complicated in the external environment, our partners don’t feel the instability. They feel the continuity.
The same is true of our agent relationships. The agents who have grown their businesses alongside INTO over the past two decades have done so because they could rely on us to deliver. Fast admissions. Consistent support. Commissions paid in full, on time, without exception. That’s not a feature of our model. It’s the foundation of it.
Students at the centre
The principle is straightforward: put the student at the centre of every decision, and everyone wins. Students succeed. Universities thrive. Agents build sustainable businesses. And INTO grows.
That principle drives every operational choice we make, from how our programmes are designed and how support is delivered on campus, to how we measure success. When 93% of students are securing places at their chosen university, you have the foundation to do something not every provider can credibly do: open your doors wider. We've reviewed and refined our entry requirements, because when your progression data is this strong, raising accessibility doesn't mean compromising quality.
Compliance in a changing world
The international education sector is operating in a more complex environment than at any point in recent memory. Geopolitical shifts. Tightening immigration policy. Increasing scrutiny on operators across the sector. In this context, compliance isn’t just a regulatory obligation. It’s a mark of integrity, and increasingly, a differentiator.
INTO was the first organisation in our sector to successfully complete the UK Agent Quality Framework audit. Our UK visa success rate stands at 98%.
AI is changing the way our sector works. For INTO, that means using it to respond faster, support agents more effectively, and deliver better outcomes for students. Technology should strengthen the partnerships that make this industry work, not substitute for them.
Building for what comes next
Twenty years in, our ambition remains unchanged: to keep raising the standard for what this industry can be - and we are investing in the future that makes it possible.
Student demand is shifting. New source markets are emerging. The destinations students want to study in are diversifying. INTO’s strategy is built around that reality.
Last year, we opened our first University Study Centre in Dubai, in partnership with Regent’s College London. This is the first of a planned network of in-market centres, designed to meet students closer to where they are and reflect the shift towards greater in-country delivery. A further centre in East Asia is planned for 2027.
INTO Qualifications, our own awarding body, develops pathway programmes designed specifically for international students. These qualifications are now recognised by more than 100 universities globally, delivered through 15 partners across 7 countries, as part of INTO’s broader expansion within transnational education.
This year, Kings Education joined the INTO group. Kings brings with it decades of experience across UK and US university pathways, English language provision, young learner programmes and transnational education partnerships. Together, Kings and INTO form a broader, more integrated international education group, with deeper capability and a more diverse portfolio of study destinations and progression pathways than either could offer alone.
These are deliberate strategic choices. They reflect a clear view of where international education is heading, and a commitment to being ready for it.
Looking ahead
The sector is going through a period of significant change. Consolidation brings uncertainty, and uncertainty affects students, agents and universities alike. But INTO's commitment to agents, to students, and to the universities we partner with has not changed and will not change.
If you haven't spoken to us recently, now is a good time. The proposition is stronger than it's ever been, and we're just getting started.