At IU Group, our commitment to responsible education and our broader role in society is at the heart of everything we do. We are pleased to share our Sustainability and Social Impact Report 2024, which details both our progress and continuing ambitions in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practice.
This report comes as we mark our first full year as a certified B Corporation. While the B Corp label is a source of pride, for us it represents an ongoing responsibility—a commitment to high standards and to continual improvement. This reflects our approach as regulatory requirements around ESG deepen both in Germany and globally.
Our central mission is to make education accessible to everyone, offering both affordability and flexibility. In 2024, the number of learners across our institutions surpassed 140,000—a 7% increase—with students now hailing from over 150 countries. We are encouraged to see that 70% of our students come from non-academic households, which speaks to our non-elitist approach.
We also continue to invest in digital and AI-driven learning tools. Innovations like Syntea, our AI learning assistant, allow us to further tailor the learning experience and support diverse talent from all corners of the world.
Our approach to social impact is grounded in practical initiatives. Notable highlights from the past year include:
Minimising our environmental footprint remains a priority. With the majority of our teaching online, our carbon emissions per student are significantly lower than those of many traditional institutions—according to our findings, up to seven times lower. Most of our sites now run on renewable electricity, and we continue to support carbon offset projects internationally, targeted especially at clean water, cleaner cookstoves, and women’s empowerment.
We recognise that an inclusive, supportive workplace culture is essential. Our employees engage in regular training on sustainability and diversity, and we continue to enhance wellbeing initiatives such as the Wellbeing Pass and corporate fitness challenges. We want all our colleagues to feel that they belong and can grow with us.
We see responsible governance and compliance as the pillars of our growth and reputation. We’re strengthening our supply chain checks, ensuring suppliers meet high ESG standards, and maintaining a strong cybersecurity framework. Our ethics policy is continually updated to reflect our commitment to integrity, diversity, and respect.
We know there is still much work to do. Our report sets out areas where we are making progress, as well as those where we continue to seek improvement. As we look forward, our aim is to keep sustainability, inclusion, and academic quality at the centre of our work—helping to shape a fairer and more resilient future through education.
We encourage you to read the full Sustainability and Social Impact Report 2024 for detailed case studies, data, and insights from across IU Group. Thank you to everyone—students, staff, partners, and communities—who continue to work with us towards these goals.
