The LSBF Group is a UK-based group of private for-profit educational institutions whose "hub" institution is the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF). The group also includes the London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA) and the LSBF School of English (later rebranded as The Language Gallery). They are all owned by Global University Systems (GUS).
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Background
The institutions of the LSBF Group, which describe themselves as "educational partners", are owned by Global University Systems BV, a private limited company based in the Netherlands. The founder, CEO, and majority shareholder of Global University Systems is the Russian-born entrepreneur Aaron Etingen who founded the London School of Business and Finance in 2003.
LSBF Group is one of the largest private education providers in the UK. According to The Guardian, after the market reforms of post-secondary education introduced by UK higher education minister David Willetts, the group expanded rapidly. St Patrick's College, London was also describing itself as "a member of the LSBF Group" in 2012 after it was bought by Etingen's company Interactive World Wide Limited. Together, the London School of Business and Finance and St Patrick's grew from 50 government-funded students in 2011 to approximately 6000 over the next two years. In 2013 LSBF and St Patrick's College collectively netted £13.5m in tuition fee payments, with their students receiving a total of £49m in government loans and grants. None of the LSBF Group's institutions have degree-awarding powers. As of 2016, their degree programs are validated by the Italian private online university Università telematica internazionale UniNettuno or the Paris-based institution École d'Art Maryse Eloy/Mod'Art International, depending on the subject.
In September 2015 the LSBF Group had its license to recruit non-European international students suspended by the UK government. That same month Global Education Systems announced plans for a two-year restructuring process of the group set to begin in mid-2016. According to John Cox, director of organisational development at GUS, the plan involves LSBF and its LCCA division coming under a new vocational entity offering only diploma courses, short courses and corporate training products. The vocational courses delivered by St Patrick's College and the Birmingham-based Finance Business Training would also come under this division. The University of Law would become sole provider of academic qualifications and professional qualifications, including the master's degrees previously offered by the LSBF Group.