Keystone Education Group announced yesterday the acquisition of global education providers, Edunation and Asia Exchange.

Edunation and Asia Exchange will join Keystone's network of student recruitment agencies within the Keystone Study Abroad division, including Blueberry and Study Outside Norway (SONOR).

Financial details were not disclosed.

Founded by Harri Suominen and Tuomas Kauppinen, Asia Exchange was established in 2007 to help others benefit from studying abroad, inspired by their own experiences as exchange students in Asia during the mid-2000s.

Ten years later, they launched Edunation in 2017, providing pathways to work and study in the founders' native Finland.

Edunation focuses on expanding global access to Finnish education, cooperating with Finnish universities and colleges to provide degree programs, top-ups, language training and pathways for more than 1000 students every year. It has strong strategic partnerships with many Finnish employers, with the goal of not only helping with education, but also securing students a job in the country.

Suominen said, “We are proud and humbled to be able to join a global powerhouse in the field of international education, especially one with roots in the Nordics.”

"Asia Exchange will bring substantial strategic benefits to Keystone Education Group as the Asia authority of study abroad with a unique model enabling accessible study abroad for the many, not the few,” Suominen added. “Edunation has been committed to revolutionising international student recruitment, guided by a vision of creating pathways for students worldwide to access high-quality education opportunities in the Nordics.”

"With Keystone, we will further elevate our services and offerings to students, educational institutions, and partners throughout the Nordics and beyond. We are excited to welcome more international talents to the happiest countries in the world. Together, we will make a true impact,” Suominen said.

Fredrik Högemark, CEO of Keystone, said the deal would bring the company closer to its ultimate goal of becoming "the global leader in education matchmaking," offering a comprehensive one-stop solution for all student marketing and recruitment needs while helping students along their educational journey.

"We aim to be a valued partner for both students and universities, connecting and supporting them throughout the entire process — from research and discovery to application, enrollment, and retention," Högemark said. "Whether a student wants to find study options at home or abroad, our mission is to help them discover and successfully access these opportunities."

The deal follows Keystone’s acquisition of German study search platform studddy in April 2023, as well as key players within international student marketing and recruitment, including FindAUniversity, UniQuest, and a range of student-athlete agencies such as AGM Sports, Sport-Scholarships, and Future Elite.