The school, which opened in September 2020, recognised that it required a partnership with an education group that has the “experience and scale in the education sector” needed to deliver the offering its founders envisioned.

Dukes Education Group will also benefit as ULIS becomes its flagship location in Europe.

“I am so happy that our first step into Europe is marked with this partnership with ULIS,” said Aatif Hassan, chairman and founder of Dukes Education Group.

The company agreed the partnership with ULIS founders, Chitra and Roman Stern of the Martinhal Group, who acquired a former university and industrial buildings near Parque das Nações in 2017, before opening the school three years later.

“So much has been achieved in a short time and this is truly impressive,” Hassan added. “Our common values and commitment to providing the highest quality education possible will ensure the future success of our partnership.”

“We are absolutely sure that ULIS will be a great flagship for the Dukes family in Europe,” the co-founders of the school said.

“We are absolutely sure that ULIS will be a great flagship for the Dukes family in Europe”

“We have found a common set of values, vision and purpose with Dukes and are excited by the tremendous potential for ULIS to grow with the benefit of their world-class people, reputation and infrastructure,” Chitra and Roman Stern added.

The World-IB accredited school – with 500 students and 89 staff and teachers from over 50 nationalities – will maintain its name. Its first cohort of International Baccalaureate Diploma Program students will graduate in 2024.

The school was also selected as a Microsoft Showcase School in 2021.

With a continued focus on entrepreneurship, technology and music and the arts at ULIS under the Dukes deal, students will also “benefit enormously from international exchange and summer camp opportunities, as well as sports competitions”, the partners added.

Head of school, José Azcue, noted that together with Dukes, ULIS will look forward to working closely to “avail of synergies and opportunities offered in this partnership to benefit our community of students, teachers, staff, and parents”.

Dukes also highlighted its “superb” career counselling, internship and college counselling experience and platforms for children wishing to go to universities in the US, Europe or the UK, as well as the “world-class” leadership and professional development offerings for teachers.

“With Dukes, we will preserve our ethos and personality while embracing their collective expertise and renowned strive for quality,” general manager at ULIS, Teresa Monteiro, concluded.