Global Universities Are Redefining the Model — Lessons from Beyond the U.S.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Sven Schütt, CEO at IU Group; Eilif Serck-Hanssen, CEO at Laureate; Laura Kakon, Former Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at Honoris United Universities; Abdujabbor Abduvohidov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Central Asian University; and Lucy Stonehill, CEO at Alwin Education Limited.Around the world, higher education institutions have been growing and evolving under constraints that differ markedly from those in the United States. Drawing on experience across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and beyond, this session explored how many global university groups have built scalable models without relying on high tuition or rigid academic pathways. Instead, these institutions have developed flexible credit structures, employer-aligned programs, innovative financing approaches, and AI-enabled teaching and student support.This conversation brought together leaders of major non-U.S. higher education organizations to discuss what they have built, why it works, and which lessons matter most for institutions navigating change in any system. Speakers examined how global models are redefining access, scalability, and workforce alignment while offering practical insights for colleges and universities seeking to evolve in a rapidly changing educational landscape.By looking beyond the U.S., this session highlighted how alternative higher education frameworks can inform the future of institutional design, student success, and sustainable growth worldwide.