GEMS launches ‘school in-a-box’ solution for other education providers, govt, investors

Dubai: Dubai-based education giant GEMS Education has launched a new venture, GEMS School Management (GSM), a service aimed at sharing its proprietary expertise in school management with governments, investors, developers, and other K-12 educational operators.

The school group said Monday the programme has already attracted considerable interest, and it is in advanced talks with customers in eight different markets “with more inquiries coming in.”

With the GSM service, customers can create new schools or transform existing ones, explained Robert Tarn CBE, Managing Director of GEMS School Management. The proprietary model, called ASPIRE, is a ‘school-in-a-box’ framework developed by educators across GEMS’ global network. The new service is designed to assist school groups and other education stakeholders operate “exceptional institutions worldwide.”

GEMS said with the GSM systems, “We can be ready to open a high-impact school – with the right team, systems and students – in as little as 12 months.”

GEMS’ GSM services can be availed by premium schools in capital cities to affordable community schools in under-served areas, the provider has said. GSM offers adaptable models and tailored contracts that meet specific regulatory, cultural, and educational goals.

How does it work?

Tarn explained that ASPIRE enables partners to quickly deploy fit-for-purpose schools across various curricula, including British, American, International Baccalaureate (IB), Indian, or local curricula. Each ASPIRE model, customised to the needs of the educational provider, includes comprehensive curriculum plans, architectural guidance, recruitment and training strategies, technology infrastructure blueprints, and several pre-developed operational systems and processes.

According to Tarn, the GSM models were designed with flexibility in mind. It allows school partners to choose from various curriculum-aligned models that can be customised to suit the specific social, regulatory, and financial landscapes of different locations.

Paul Edmunds, Chief Partnership Officer at GEMS, said, “We are already in discussions with around 20 different partners globally. That is here in the GCC. But discussions are (ongoing with school groups) in Asia, Europe, the UK, North and South America.” More announcements are expected in the third quarter of the year.  

How is it funded?

GEMS clarified the initiative is not “philanthropic in nature, but a business”. Tarn said, “This is a business, but our business is education.”

Hardik Shah, Vice President of Support Services at GEMS Education, said, “At GSM, we don't take a one-size-fits-all or a cookie-cutter approach. We believe that every school and investment is very unique, and we tailor our model accordingly.”

He added, “We focus on keeping the GSM approach very asset-light and what would bring the most amount of value to the investors. GSM helps the owners manage the schools on their behalf, encompassing a wide range of activities, including the recruitment of a head teacher, assisting in the design of the building, and, after the building is complete, providing support in managing the educational outcomes. IT systems, review of policies, procedures, etc. This setup not only keeps things lean for us but also allows GSM to scale quickly and sustainably across various geographies.”

Services for existing schools

In addition to facilitating new school builds, Tarn said GSM would also offer customised enhancement contracts for existing schools, helping them to scale, improve educational outcomes, and benefit from GEMS’ economies of scale and procurement advantages.

Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder of GEMS Education, said, “Every child deserves access to world-class education, no matter where they are. GSM is how we share our legacy, our expertise, and our belief in education’s power to change lives with partners who share our vision. Together, we will build schools that shape not only futures but nations.”

Dino Varkey, Group CEO of GEMS Education, said, “Over the years, we've pioneered countless pace-setting K-12 initiatives because, as our chairman says, whatever the question, education is the answer.”