Laureate International Universities brings the World Innovation Forum to the campuses and classrooms of its global network of universities

BALTIMORE, May 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Students and faculty from 23 Laureate network institutions in eight countries had a front-row seat to this year's World Innovation Forum, which wrapped up yesterday in Leon, Mexico. The World Innovation Forum is an annual event, being held this year in Leon, Mexico, that highlights the ideas and insights from leading experts who offer perspectives, trends and case studies to demonstrate how the most successful companies are effectively driving innovation. Additionally, 40 students and faculty members, representing 14 institutions from the Laureate International Universities network, attended in person. Laureate's participation in the full-length live event and the webcast were made possible through Laureate's partnership with HSM, a global thought leader focused on inspiring current and future leaders through innovative experiences and ideas that created and hosted this two-day event.  

"This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to hear firsthand from global thought leaders who are literally helping to change the world," said Douglas L. Becker, Chairman and CEO of Laureate Education, Inc.

2012 World Innovation Forum speakers included, Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, Juan Enriquez, CEO of Biotechonomy LLC, Tom Peters, one of the world's leading management experts; and Clay Shirky, author, New York University Professor and one of today's most influential thinkers on how the internet is impacting the way the world works.

Evelyn Valderama, a student from Universidad de Las Americas (UDLA) in Chile, was one of the students chosen to participate in the forum in Leon. "The network enables us to share different ideas and experiences from different cultural perspectives, which is positioning us to create a new and more innovative society. It was a great honor to take part in this event. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity."

The event was delivered to the Laureate network in Spanish with English subtitles. A panel of leaders from Laureate institutions hosted the broadcast and introduced and moderated the topics raised by the speakers. The webcast of the World Innovation Forum builds off the success of the 2011 World Business Forum, another annual event hosted by HSM, which was shared with more 55,000 members of the Laureate International Universities community.

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 more than 60 accredited campus-based and online universities. Our more than 700,000 students are part of an academic community that spans 29 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.

CONTACT:  Matthew Yale, +1-410-843-6506, [email protected]

SOURCE Laureate International Universities