Sannam S4 helps more than 150 international organisations in their work in India, among them colleges and universities. One in six of the Times Higher Education World University Ranking’s top 100 institutions use its services.

“Clients have been asking us to come up with a solution in China. We are now able to offer one”

Beijing-based Grok focusses wholly on education, offering services to 60 universities and one language school in China and other Asian markets.

Through the tie-up institutions interested in Asia will access “a combined range of services via a single relationship”, said Sannam in a press release. These include on-the-ground help establishing a local presence or office; market research and sector analysis; social media and event management; education agent management; research and partnership selection; and other practical advisory services.

Sannam S4’s CEO, Adrian Mutton, said the partnership would allow his clients to benefit from “services they are used to in India, in China”.

“Our move into China is driven by client demand,” he added. “A number of our existing clients have been asking us to come up with a solution in China. We are now able to offer one.”

The two companies say they are keen to expand the partnership to other “high growth markets”. Grok already plans to expand in Malaysia by June 2014, CEO Kim Morrison told The PIE last month. The partnership will also allow clients to access both Grok’s mainly Canadian, US and Australian clients along with Sannam’s portfolio of UK institutions.

Grok’s executive director in China, James Aldridge, said in a statement: “Being able to offer blended services through a seamless China and India support platform is an exceptionally compelling proposition for institutions and we are already exploring other markets where support is needed.”