By combining, Nous and Cubane will be able to “provide a seamless and strengthened service moving from benchmarking insights to benefits realisation more rapidly” across the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The acquisition will also ensure the consultancy is “ideally positioned to advise the full breadth of UK universities as they emerge from the challenges of the global Covid-19 pandemic”, the companies added.

Cubane’s UniForum program services – which allow university management to “manage strategically their administration and support services, leveraging the power of sharing information” – will be developed further to simplify the data collection and add value to the collected data.

“Nous is committed to the transformative value of education, so we are constantly looking to grow the quality and range of work we do at all levels of education – and in particular in higher education,” Tim Orton, founder and CEO of Nous, said.

“Learnings from our work in Canada, and in Australia in particular, offer our suite of UK clients fresh perspective and understanding, which is critical for institutions looking to evolve and gain a competitive advantage.”

Founder and group managing director of Cubane Edward Curry-Hyde will remain CEO of Cubane.

“We believe there will be substantial benefits for Cubane clients who choose to then work with Nous through needing less disruptive data collection, less reinvention of insights, and quicker progress to conclusions and benefit realisation,” Curry-Hyde said.

“UniForum will be even more valuable if clients also have access to Nous’ expertise”

“UniForum will be even more valuable if clients also have access to Nous’ expertise to help shape and implement their improvement programs.”

“As the UniForum program is the most comprehensive, detailed and unparalleled benchmarking service currently available, Nous’ acquisition of Cubane represents an exciting opportunity for us to help our university clients globally to act on Cubane insights and improve their performance,” Orton added.

Nous also recently hired Tim Marney as a chief economist. There will be no job losses associated with the acquisition, the company added.