17 October 2024
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a global leader in higher education analytics and ratings, has officially announced the acquisition of HolonIQ, a rapidly growing marketing analytics platform recognised for its impact in the education, climate, and health sectors. This acquisition signals a major step for QS as it aims to expand its reach and capabilities across a range of strategic initiatives.
QS, which currently serves over 6,950 institutional and corporate clients, is known for its comprehensive education analytics, benchmarking, and ratings services. With the acquisition of HolonIQ, QS aims to strengthen its ability to address the global skills gap by integrating HolonIQ’s advanced data and AI capabilities. This merger is set to provide enhanced insights and solutions to governments, institutions, businesses, and investors—helping them navigate the rapidly evolving demands of the global workforce.
Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, emphasised the significance of the acquisition, stating: “This acquisition marks a milestone in our evolution as a global leader in education intelligence. By leveraging HolonIQ’s leading-edge technology and analytics, we can empower industry leaders, educators, and policymakers with the data needed to shape critical decisions about the future of education and work.”
HolonIQ, which was founded in 2018, has swiftly established itself as a key player in the global data and analytics market. The platform’s innovative use of open-source frameworks and real-time predictive insights reaches hundreds of thousands of professionals worldwide. According to Patrick Brothers, Co-CEO and Co-founder of HolonIQ, “This acquisition accelerates our vision of delivering rich, rigorous, and timely insights to global decision-makers at a time when technological, digital, political, and economic shifts are profoundly shaping the global economy.”
As QS and HolonIQ join forces, the newly unified entity will focus on several strategic initiatives:
- Expanding HolonIQ’s cutting-edge platform to deliver real-time, predictive insights into global trends, offering invaluable guidance to institutions and policymakers as they face an increasingly complex environment.
- Developing new products and services designed to bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring graduates are equipped with the skills needed for the workforce of the future.
- Promoting sustainability and social impact by increasing efforts to measure and foster these values within the education sector—an area of growing importance for students, institutions, and employers alike.
- Supporting institutions undergoing digital transformation, offering a suite of tools and resources to help them leverage technology effectively and sustainably in a rapidly changing digital world.
This acquisition not only strengthens QS’s position in the global education market but also provides its clients with access to enhanced, data-driven insights that are essential for navigating the future of work, education, and societal impact.
The combined expertise of QS and HolonIQ will undoubtedly pave the way for a more integrated and robust offering, enabling institutions and organizations worldwide to make more informed, data-driven decisions that shape the future of education and employment.