S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 In January, the control of Brazilian student recruitment company IE Interc\u00e2mbio was acquired by MetaApply, an agency based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With the deal, which resulted in the merger of the two companies, IE is preparing to expand its international presence. One of the goals is to offer study opportunities abroad for courses beyond exchange programs, including postgraduate studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to IE Interc\u00e2mbio\u2019s CFO and the person responsible for the investment and merger process, Cesar Vieira, MetaApply has a significant presence in Asia and Oceania and aimed to expand its business to become a global student recruitment agency. \u201cThey had a strong presence in Asia and planned to expand into Latin America and Europe. We met and started negotiating. MetaApply acquired control of IE and merged the companies,\u201d says Vieira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company resulting from the merger of IE and MetaApply, according to Vieira, is now one of the largest in the world in its sector. IE will expand its presence in Latin America and Europe, while MetaApply will strengthen its presence in Asia and Oceania. The expansion will also extend to the business offerings. The executive says that customers will receive more support from the company worldwide and access to more services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe already have a strong presence in language study programs and temporary work abroad, and now with this merger with MetaApply, IE will also include what we call higher education, including undergraduate, MBA, and postgraduate programs in our portfolio,\u201d says Vieira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe main goal of MetaApply is to enter the Latin American market, which is the most promising for this sector. Latin America countries\u2014specifically Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico\u2014are countries with a very high growth rate, over double digits per year [in this sector], and they have an extremely high student visa approval rate,\u201d says Vieira. He notes that some Asian countries have a higher visa rejection rate from the countries receiving exchange students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the main destinations for Brazilians studying abroad through exchange programs are English-speaking countries, primarily Canada, the United States, England, Ireland, and Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Latin audience is increasingly focused on investing in studying abroad, becoming global citizens, developing soft skills, as we call it, through studying abroad, and experiencing other cultures. So, this is their interest in expanding into Latin America,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first results of the merger between the companies will be seen this year. \u201cWe’re very excited, and we plan strong investments in the coming months throughout the year, in marketing, service improvements, and enhancing the customer experience,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more:<\/em> Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n
Dubai: Destination for Brazilian exchange students<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n