Times Higher Education has acquired the US-based business Inside Higher Ed, in a deal that brings together two of the leading providers of insights and data in global higher education.

Announcing the acquisition, THE’s chief executive Paul Howarth said the move followed a period of “rapid organic growth” for the business, and that Inside Higher Ed was “an ideal partner” that “shares THE’s values and mission to support excellence in higher education”.

Inside Higher Ed provides news, analysis and services to universities and colleges across the US, and is based in Washington DC, while THE is headquartered in London, with offices in Australia, the US and Singapore.

Together, the companies will reach combined audiences of more than 50 million annually, comprising university leadership, faculty, professional staff and students, as well as policymakers and others, worldwide.

The deal is the second acquisition by THE, after the purchase of higher education consultancy The Knowledge Partnership (TKP) in December 2020, under the ownership of Inflexion Private Equity, which itself acquired THE in 2019.

Mr Howarth said: “The rapid organic growth that THE has seen in recent years has been driven by its evolution into a powerful, global data business. Now, with the backing of our investors at Inflexion Private Equity, we are in a position to further strengthen our position in the market through strategic acquisitions.”

“We see Inside Higher Ed as an ideal partner as we continue to extend our reach and the services we offer. It is a business that shares THE’s values and mission to support excellence in higher education, and we look forward to working with (Inside Higher Ed’s co-founders and editors) Scott Jaschick, Doug Lederman, CEO Dari Gessner and the wider Inside Higher Ed team, so that together we can do even more to support universities and colleges across the US, and the rest of the world”, Mr Howarth continued.

THE said in its statement that Inside Higher Ed would continue to operate independently under its existing brand, adding that the “combined scale and complementary strengths and services” afforded by the tie-up would enable it to do more to help universities worldwide, as well as delivering “unrivalled reach across key higher education markets”.

Mr Jaschik, who founded Inside Higher Ed with Mr Lederman in 2004, said: “We are thrilled to be joining forces with THE, especially during this period of growth. We have often collaborated with THE and this new chapter in our relationship will allow us to be more effective than ever at informing the world about higher education, while also expanding our ability to provide essential tools and services to help organisations and professionals be more effective.”