Laureate Education Adds the BTK Group to Its International University Network

BALTIMORE, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Laureate Education, Inc. acquired Germany's BTK Group, consisting of the BTK University of Applied Sciences in Berlin and Academies of Design in Berlin and Hamburg (BTK/HTK), bolstering its global network of private post-secondary institutions.

The addition of these institutions expands the Laureate International Universities network in Germany and enhances the strong portfolio of design programs offered by Laureate institutions worldwide. In 2008, the company acquired its first institution in Germany, the BiTS University of Applied Sciences in Iserlohn, North Rhine-Westphalia. Other leading institutions in the Laureate network focused on design include Domus Academy and NABA Milano in Italy, the Media Design School in New Zealand and the Santa Fe University of Art and Design in New Mexico.

BTK University of Applied Science was founded in 2006 and focuses on delivering undergraduate degree programs in communication, design, motion design, interaction design, illustration, communication management and photography. HTK was founded in Hamburg in 1987 and specializes in programs geared toward graphic design, specifically tailored to the needs of the media and advertising industry. Together the institutions enroll approximately 1,000 students. For more than 20 years, these institutions have been renowned for their excellence in providing education that prepares graduates for success in a quickly evolving labor market for applied design.

"With Laureate, we are very pleased to have found a partner that perfectly complements the strategy of the BTK Group," said founder and former CEO Claus Bennefeld. "I am confident that Laureate will uphold the same standards in terms of the curricula and the organization of the institutions to ensure that the high quality of our educational offering is continued well into the future."

Bennefeld also said the BTK Group students will benefit from Laureate's vast global network. "Our students will have greater opportunities to participate in international exchange programs and to receive a truly global education—precisely what is needed to help them in their future careers."

Laureate Education Chairman and CEO Douglas Becker said Germany's highly esteemed higher education landscape made BTK a great fit for Laureate. "With the addition of BTK to the Laureate network, we look forward to further contributing to the growth and continuous innovation of higher education in Germany."

"The decision to increase our study offerings in Berlin and Hamburg was based on the excellent reputation of the BTK Group in high-growth areas of media and design education," added Robert Polston, President of Laureate France and Germany. "BTK is a unique institution with an established reputation for providing innovative programs addressing many of today's most important and rapidly growing career fields.  Through this partnership with BTK, we seek to build upon the vision of Claus Bennefeld and enhance the experience of students and faculty with program offerings and access to the international market."

About Laureate International Universities

Laureate International Universities is a trusted global leader in providing access to high-quality, innovative institutions of higher education. The Laureate International Universities network includes 58 accredited campus-based and online universities. Our more than 675,000 students are part of an academic community that spans 28 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Laureate universities offer hundreds of undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs in fields including architecture, art, business, culinary arts, design, education, engineering, health sciences, hospitality management, information technology, law and medicine. President William J. Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, serves as The Honorary Chancellor of the Laureate International Universities network, offering advice on social responsibility, youth leadership and increasing access to higher education. For more information, visit www.laureate.net.

SOURCE Laureate International Universities