Founded in 2004, IBAT offers undergraduate, postgraduate, English language and professional qualifications in subjects such as business, accounting, ICT and management.

“The acquisition will enable IBAT College to tap into the extensive worldwide network that GUS has developed”

Around 1,000 of its students come from overseas, with top source countries including Brazil, Mexico and India.

Prior to the acquisition, IBAT had been “looking to partner with an educational group that could assist us to get to the next level”, its managing director, Shane Ormsby, said in a statement.

The institution believes that it has found this partner in GUS, and the focus going forward will be on attracting more domestic and international students.

The brand joins education institutions in Canada, the UK and Germany operating under the GUS umbrella.

“The acquisition will enable IBAT College to tap into the extensive worldwide network that GUS has developed,” Ormsby told The PIE News.

“While we are at early stages in the acquisition, there are plans in place to exploit synergies between the different GUS group companies.”

“IBAT will also benefit from the extensive portfolio of GUS programmes across its many different brands,” he added.

Ormsby will remain as managing director following the buyout.

Other brands GUS operates include LSBF and the University of Law in the UK. Earlier this year it acquired Arden University, an online distance and blended learning institution offering UK university qualifications.

Legal advisers to the transaction were Matheson Solicitors and Lemans Solicitors.