Helsinki International Schools Group Ltd (HEI Schools) has received a significant investment from private equity company EQT for international expansion. HEI Schools and Finland’s largest private preschool operator Touhula, owned by EQT, join forces to bring Finnish early education to international markets. HEI Schools was founded in 2015 in partnership with the University of Helsinki.
”HEI Schools was founded when we realized what a huge need and interest there is globally for early education based on the Finnish model. Due to the high demand, we dared to think big from the start: we will have succeeded in our efforts when high quality early education and the HEI Schools concept are accessible both financially and location wise to as many people. The investment from EQT will enhance HEI Schools’ potential in making progress fast enough in the international markets”, Milla Kokko, the CEO and Co-Founder of HEI Schools explains.
Touhula is the largest private early childhood education organization in Finland with nearly 200 preschools across the country. EQT is a leading investment firm with approximately EUR 49 billion in raised capital across 26 funds.
HEI Schools Helsinki to be opened in September 2018
As a part of the collaboration, HEI Schools´ pedagogical content will also be applied in Touhula preschools across Finland. Touhula and HEI Schools will also open a HEI Schools Helsinki unit in September 2018. There has been an extensive need for international early childhood education in the Helsinki Metropolitan area, and HEI Schools Helsinki will answer to this demand. HEI Schools Helsinki will also serve as a model preschool for other HEI Schools and as a showroom for international visitors.
The first HEI School was opened in Baotou, China in September 2017. Research-based pedagogy is a cornerstone in the HEI Schools concept.
More info:
Press release
HEI Schools turns the Finnish kindergarten into an export-ready package