Leading Italian Schools of Art and Design Education Join Laureate International Universities Network

MILAN and BALTIMORE, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Domus Academy and NABA Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano in Milan, Italy, have joined the Laureate International Universities (LIU) network, extending Laureate's position as a global leader in higher education in art and design.

Domus Academy was founded in 1982 in Milan as the first post-graduate design school in Italy.  Domus Academy delivers post-graduate education and research focusing on design processes and methodologies in order to anticipate needs and trends in a continuously evolving society.  Domus Academy offers courses in the fields of fashion, interior design, architecture, business, product and car design. In 2009 Domus Academy was ranked by Business Week magazine as one of the top design schools in the world.  Today, 250 students attend Domus Academy.

NABA, founded in 1980, is the largest and most innovative private academy in Italy. NABA offers undergraduate and post-graduate programs in the fields of design, fashion design, graphics, multimedia arts, theatre design and visual arts.  NABA is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research.  All degrees are Bologna compliant, ensuring that students' degrees are recognized internationally.  Currently 1,800 students attend NABA.

Strong academic and business partnerships worldwide provide students at Domus Academy and NABA with direct access to leaders in the design industry.  Alumni from Domus Academy and NABA have gone on to work for such leaders in design as Valentino, Dior, Audi, 3M, Philippe Starck, Armani Casa, Chanel and Saatchi & Saatchi.

"As a leader in international education, Laureate International Universities serves students in many fields, including art and design," said Douglas L. Becker, Chairman and CEO of Laureate Education.  "We are pleased to welcome two of Italy's finest design institutions, Domus Academy and NABA Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano, to our network. These leading institutions, along with the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico and NewSchool of Architecture and Design in San Diego, California, will represent our centers of excellence in the teaching of art, design and architecture. These are important and growing fields of study for the Laureate International Universities network, with over 30,000 students currently enrolled across all institutions."

"I am confident that the Laureate International Universities network will further enhance the future teachings of Domus Academy," said Maria Grazia Mazzocchi, founder of Domus Academy. "For the past 27 years, our post-graduate design school has been dedicated to understanding and improving the values of Italian design and fashion.  The highly qualified professional experience of Laureate adheres to the philosophy of Domus Academy, and the Laureate network will make Italian design methodologies available to many students all over the world."

"It is exciting that NABA has joined the Laureate network," said Alessandro Guerriero, president of NABA Design and Futuarium. "Our vision is inspired by the belief that aesthetics play an important role in the spiritual survival of mankind.  I look forward to continuing to elevate the NABA philosophy of design, which combines a contemporary spirit of innovation and artistic focus."

About Laureate International Universities

Laureate International Universities is a global network of 50 accredited campus-based and online institutions of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 550,000 students around the world.  Laureate International Universities students are part of an international, academic community that spans 21 countries and more than 100 campuses throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.  Laureate International Universities offer more than 130 career-focused, undergraduate, masters and doctoral degree programs in fields including architecture, art, business, culinary arts, design, education, engineering, health sciences, hospitality, information technology, law, and medicine.  For more information, visit www.laureate.net.

SOURCE Laureate Education