International Schooling: A Maturing Market? (Part I)

Just as children grow and mature, so do markets.

As markets evolve, they change; they pass through periods of rapid growth, transitioning to what textbooks call industry maturity.

Consider the iPad. In the early days, Apple had the tablet market almost to itself. Sales rose rapidly. Today, the tablet market is mature. There are plenty of iPad alternatives, at a range of price points. iPad sales have stagnated.

As it did for Apple, transition to maturity signals important market changes. In this series of articles, we will consider what those changes might be for international schools.

In Part I below, we examine the signs of maturing markets; in Part II, the implications; and, in Part III, possible strategic responses to maturity.

Maturing markets: the signs to look out for

The famous California gold rush lasted from 1848–1855. Seven short years.

When it comes to writing the history of the international school gold rush, how will things compare?

We can probably pin the start date to 1996, the year Dulwich College (UK) became the first British private school to make a foray into overseas territory. It set a strong precedent. Over the last few decades…