Camino Global Education is being led by John Wood, former CEO of university partnerships at Navitas, and Peter Larsen, who co-founded Navitas (then known as IBT) with Rod Jones in 1994.

“We’re in negotiations with a number of [university] partners globally, but we’re in no rush,” Wood told The PIE News.

“We want to ensure that the partners that choose us and that we choose them, that we actually do deliver for both of us.”

With a seasoned leadership team of six, Camino is planning on making an impact in what is already a fairly competitive field of private companies partnering with universities for specific services tailored towards international students.

“I think a key feature of what we will do is that powerful link, with the partner university, of the academic outcomes, and also joined at the hip with them in the [student] recruitment exercise.

“But yes, it will be, as you say, classic “pathway” in that form with the one difference: total exclusivity with that partner,” Wood relayed.

Rod Jones, co-founder of Navitas, also re-entered the fray in the pathway sector after being part of a takeover bid with BGH. His son, Scott Jones, is now CEO at Navitas.

“The sector is so exhilarating and exciting and it does change people’s lives,” said Wood.

He added, “We don’t need any private equity. It is personal investors, personal investments of the board. We have very deep financial backing from our group.”

The Australia-based board of Camino comprises Wood, Larsen, John Duncan (ex-Monash), Andrew Dawkins (most recently with Study Group Australia), Malcolm Raedel (ex-Navitas) and consultant Julian Mills.