Bringing innovation to the education market
An overview of Acumen services
Acumen is part of Sannam S4 Group, who have over 17 years of experience in partnering with government bodies, higher education institutions, schools and other education providers to maximise opportunities globally and enhance international recruitment strategies.
Supporting your internationalisation ambitions
We are leaders in the provision of tailored solutions and complimentary services for transnational education and research partnerships, a sustainable in-country presence, and lead-to-enrolment services, as well as a broad range of insights and market intelligence.
Why Acumen is your trusted global partner
We understand the current landscape
We have extensive knowledge of the growth opportunities for institutions as well as recognising some of the challenges the sector is facing. Our experienced team is committed to finding the solution that works for you so you can achieve your goals. We will listen to you and your specific needsour services are customisable and flexible.
We have an international presence combined with local expertise With strategic locations globally, we are best placed to offer a range of services to meet your needs and expand your global footprint. Our sector experts provide the most up-todate intelligence helping to improve our services, whilst our reputation and extensive network enables you to enter new markets, establish new channels for recruitment, engage with government officials and promote industry connections for workready graduates.
The trusted partner of 15 of the world’s Top 50 QS 2025 universities, including 13 Russell Group institutions and 4 of the Group of Eight 120+
partnerships including universities, colleges, VET, schools, government, service providers and EdTech firms.
We offer the most comprehensive end-to-end solution
We have the insights and in-depth knowledge to provide you with a quality service from lead to enrolment and beyond. We can work with you on the strategy, provide on the ground representation, activate accelerated and improved prospecting, manage admissions, conversion and enrolment, and enable entry to industry or the workplace.
Cardiff University utilised Acumen’s research and consulting services.
The project required Acumen to review Cardiff University’s value proposition as an institution and to identify which markets Cardiff University should focus on to develop a wider range of TNE and progression partnerships. Having identified six markets and two broader regions, Acumen provided a detailed research report for each, which included a wealth of information to assist us in developing our partnership development strategy for each country/region.
In addition, Acumen also provided a final report which recommended an internal strategy for us to follow in our pursuit of partnerships.”
Anne Morgan Head of International Partnerships, Cardiff University
Our solutions
We offer a range of services to elevate your internationalisation strategy. Our strong expertise in the local market and our global footprint ensures we can open the door for you to new opportunities for growth.
Our services are designed to be flexible to give you more choice and find the solutions that meet your needs. You can commission one of our packages of services or we can tailor our provision to your specific requirements, offering you some ‘taster’ services or even combining solutions to give you the best possible outcome.
Presence: In-Country Representation
Expand your global reach with an in-country presence, delivering regional expertise and engaging with local stakeholders to maximise your student recruitment. We can take care of some or all of the following areas:
> Recruitment of in-market consultants - hiring the right people in the right locations.
> Day-to-day management and local supervision of your in-market team by one of our Partner Success Managers.
> Guidance on engagementensuring that outreach and on the ground activities are going as planned and meeting objectives.
> Training and development to upskill staff.
> Compliance and adherence to local regulations.
PACE Enrolment Services
Get expert support in managing your prospective student pipeline, either for the entire journey from lead to enrolment, or parts of the journey where you may have specific challenges.
Our digital marketing, admissions and enrolment service known as PACE (Prospect, Admit, Convert, Enrol) is both flexible and scalable, so we can help you to unblock your funnel so that you not only achieve your international student recruitment goals but recruit the right students for your institution. This service offers:
> Digital demand generation: we enable precision digital strategies for targeted lead generation, expanding brand reach effectively and boosting ROI.
> Enquiry management and conversion: we proactively engage with students across channels to ensure rapid lead qualification, translating to higher conversion rates.
> Application screening: we help you eliminate low-value tasks so you can focus on higher-value activities.
> Application processing and assessment: we provide prompt application evaluations, aligned with your criteria, using both our skilled personnel and intelligent prioritisation.
> Offer Conversion: we use both a human and automated approach which identifies high-converting offer holders, ensuring we move prospective students through the pipeline to enrolment.
> Credibility interviews, CAS preparation and Genuine Students checks: we ensure genuine applications through a meticulous profile assessment and interview approach. We also conduct financial checks where required.
Consulting Services
Use our local market knowledge to improve your internationalisation strategy. Our consulting service can provide valuable insights and advisory support on potential opportunities for your institution.
> Account Management: ensuring we are delivering on your objectives.
> Strategy: from growth strategy to market feasibility analysis and financial forecasting, we help you to develop into your chosen markets.
> Benchmarking: our benchmarking services help you to compare differences in student expectations, intentions and outcomes in international students at every stage of their experience.
> Surveys: we conduct surveys to analyse the sentiments of students, educators and stakeholders to inform datadriven strategies to reach your goals.
> Market intelligence: we offer clear and accurate insights decisionmaking related to education, including subjects, course structure and more.
> Consultation: we offer marketing sizing, potential target market insights, due diligence and partnership opportunities.
Transnational Education (TNE)
Let us support you to expand globally by helping you to navigate new markets, regulations and partnerships.
We can help you to:
> Develop branch campuses, articulation pathways, and innovative TNE models.
> Understand regulatory frameworks and establish sustainable partnerships.
> Develop employability partnerships for graduates in-country.
Global presence. Local knowledge.
CANADA
Locations of Acumen offices and specialist delivery staff
Locations where Acumen can set up and oversee delivery of services. Includes: Europe, Middle East, China, Hong Kong, Latin America, Nigeria and other African countries
UNITED KINGDOM
INDONESIA
offices across India,
in-country representatives across the globe
AUSTRALIA
We have supported and partnered with hundreds of institutions and organisations to achieve excellent results. Our partnerships are wide-ranging and include higher education institutions, schools and other education providers, as well as government bodies across the UK and Ireland, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the US and Canada, and Japan.
Our Partnerships
Our partnerships are growing across the globe and we are currently the trusted partner of more than 120 organisations and institutions.
Acumen is a formal and trusted advisor to the Governments of Japan, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia on the Indian higher education and vocational sectors. It is also an Official Strategic Partner to the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA), U.S. Department of Commerce and a close working collaborator with the U.S. State Department and multiple trade and sector organisations. For the five year review of India’s National Education Policy (2020), Acumen is the Government of India’s NITI Aayog’s exclusive private sector partner in partnership with the Association of Indian Universities and IIT Madras.
Hear first-hand from our partners who have benefited from our services.
PRESENCE: IN-COUNTRY REPRESENTATION
We have been working with Acumen in the USA for two years now, and we are really starting to see the impacts in terms of recruitment numbers. We have done a lot of work on improving our understanding of the market and qualifications, and have been able to have a huge step change in the activity we are able to deliver thanks to our wonderful representative based in the States. Our role is focussed on UG recruitment, but has benefitted many other areas of the business including (but not limited to) alumni relations, PG recruitment and study abroad.
I really like the model and Acumen team we work with on this project, right from the recruitment process to where we are now. I am confident that our rep is well supported locally in terms of safety, wellbeing and HR etc, but we are given the freedom to build our own strategy based on our objectives. We get regular market updates and can have regular meetings to monitor how the project and partnership is progressing.
Overall I am really happy with this venture and look forward to seeing how it evolves.”
Amy Jones Senior International Recruitment Manager, The University of Sheffield, UK
Cardiff University utilised Acumen’s research and consulting services in 2022. The project required Acumen to review Cardiff University’s value proposition as an institution and to identify which markets Cardiff University should focus on in order to develop a wider range of TNE and progression partnerships. Having identified six markets and two broader regions, Acumen provided a detailed research report for each, which included a wealth of information to assist us in developing our partnership development strategy for each country/region. In addition, Acumen also provided a final report which recommended an internal strategy for us to follow in our pursuit of partnerships.”
Anne Morgan Head of International Partnerships, Cardiff University, UK
CONSULTING SERVICES
Acumen’s deep insight into the higher education landscape of Vietnam is a valuable resource to the University of Canterbury and our market development work. The analysis provided has given us a stronger understanding of strategic direction as well as a pragmatic list of recommendations to consider.”
Brett Berquist
Assistant Vice Chancellor - Engagement, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
PACE ENROLMENT SERVICES
We have been really pleased with the results since working with the PACE (Prospect, Admit, Convert, Enrol) team. They have been really engaged through all steps in the onboarding processes and beyond. They work extremely well with our operational team, and have picked up our processes and systems really quickly. Collaboration, excellent customer service for applicants, high output in terms of volume and quality has been the key to success of this partnership”
Claire Galliford Director of Student Administration, University of Exeter,
UK
How can we help?
Let Acumen help you to reach your international student recruitment goals, find the right partners, understand your ideal market with insights, and launch new global initiatives.
We pride ourselves on our extensive expertise and personal approach to working with our partners.
Book an appointment today to discuss how we can support your internationalisation journey.
Connect with us linkedin.com/company/acumen-edu
Acumen is part of the Sannam S4 Group, established in 2008. Acumen is committed to helping ambitious university and education partners explore new growth opportunities, enter new markets and expand globally. Contact us connect@acumen.education
