Celebrating 21 Years of Impact
Dear Laureate Community
Precisely twenty-one years ago, the Laureate International Universities network was created.
Our network was founded on the belief that when students succeed, countries prosper, and societies benefit. This was true twenty-one years ago, and it is true today. Especially today.
It is impossible to separate our important milestone from what is happening as the world pivots to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. An important component of what has enabled us to succeed for twenty-one years has been our ability to adapt, innovate and disrupt. This is also what is going to ensure each of our universities continue to deliver for our students during and beyond this challenging period.
Over the past twenty-one years we have graduated millions of students around the world. Students who have benefited from the wisdom of our expert faculty, the determination of their peers, and the commitment of our staff. I often speak about growing the middle class, particularly in Latin America, and how we have helped advance this, and I speak about the power of education to change lives. For me, what really brings this to life is when I meet our students, remarkable leaders who are already creating a significant impact in the world.
To our students and graduates, I say thank you for trusting us with one of the most important decisions you will make as you shape and accelerate your career. We take your decision just as seriously as you do and could not be more proud of the impact you have made, and will continue to make, across so many industries.
To our faculty, thank you for bringing your expertise, your passion, and your commitment to academic quality and integrity to our universities. Thank you for every time you have seen potential in a student and nurtured their curiosity, imagination and ambition.
To our staff, thank you for providing an incredible support structure around our network that has enabled us to deliver at scale, all over the world. Thank you for staying focused on our mission, even when you may be many thousands of miles away from a campus or from our students.
To our external partners, from Amazon Web Services to B Lab, from Microsoft to Business Volunteers Maryland, we have partnered with many leading local and global companies and organizations like yours. We appreciate your commitment to enhancing both the learning experience and career pathways of our students, and our culture and brand more broadly.
Thank you to each of you for the role you have played in our journey of twenty-one years. Even when the world around us is distracted (and rightfully so), I encourage you to pause for a moment and reflect on the impact that you have created. The impact that we have created. And the impact our millions of students will continue to create for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Eilif Serck-Hanssen President and Chief Executive Officer Laureate Education, Inc.
