For the past century European and North American higher education has attracted students from throughout the world. What makes it such a magnet? Why do tens of thousands of international students apply for admission to these Western colleges and universities each year? Why do outstanding faculty members from other countries apply for teaching and research appointments in European and North American universities? Despite rising high costs, why is higher education still considered a good investment, both for the students and the nations?

A partial answer lies in the ability of Western institutions to innovate and to borrow best practices from one another. For example, while many aspects of US higher education are distinctly American — the land grant model, the GI Bill, the corporate governance model, the plethora of private institutions — many practices have been modeled after the older European university system.

The universities on both continents have supported, and in many instances helped create, economic and social policies which make their nations economically and socially competitive. Cooperative efforts of universities and businesses have resulted in countless advances in technology,

Echo Group presenters have over 500 years combined experience in all levels of educational policy and college and university administration. Seminars and training programs can be designed to meet specific needs of faculties, institutions, ministries, and legislators.

Echo Group personnel have been directly involved in business development and business education on the international stage for over three decades.  Results of their involvement have helped transform centrally-planned economies to free market successes in numerous countries. Echo Group associates are specialists in the business of education as well as the education of business.  Most associates have first-hand experience in the management of small and medium businesses, and several have owned and operated their own successful companies.

SME assistance centers established by Echo Group associates in the early 1990s are successfully operating today without financial assistance from the US.  MBA programs developed by them are offered at major universities in several countries of SE Asia.  These programs help countries achieve international standards in business and business education thereby helping them become more competitive in the world marketplace. 

The Group specializes in establishing self-sustaining centers of business assistance and training business counselors to staff those centers.  Working closely with ministries of commerce and departments of SME assistance, the Group designs each project to address the needs of the specific community, region and country.
 

Short training courses in all aspects of business are offered by the Echo Group, either as components of larger projects or as stand-alone programs.  These courses are specifically designed for the country in which they are offered.