GEA Announces Expansion into South Asia, Operations to Commence in Early 2026

As the new year begins, GEA is pleased to share an important milestone in its global journey with the announcement of its expansion into South Asia. Regional operations are scheduled to commence in early 2026, reinforcing GEA’s long-term commitment to building strong international education partnerships.

South Asia has emerged as one of the most important source regions for international students globally. According to international mobility data published by bodies such as UNESCO and the OECD, India alone sends over 1.3 million students abroad, making it the largest source country of international students worldwide. When combined with markets such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, South Asia accounts for a significant and growing share of global outbound student flows, with year-on-year growth rebounding strongly post-pandemic.

Through its South Asia presence, GEA will work closely with university partners to support student recruitment through market-specific enrolment strategies, local insights, and on-ground operational support. The objective is to help institutions maintain consistent recruitment outcomes while responding to the evolving market needs.

Channel partners in the region will also benefit from closer access to GEA’s 20+ years of experience in international education. Through GEA360 Solutions, partners will receive structured support across application processing, destination diversification, and coordination with universities, backed by dedicated regional representatives to ensure smoother workflows and faster turnaround times.

“South Asia is central to GEA’s long-term vision. While it is one of the world’s largest source regions for internationally mobile students, it is also among the most diverse and rapidly evolving education markets globally. Our expansion reflects a shift from viewing South Asia as a transactional recruitment market to engaging with it as a strategic growth partner.

A local presence allows us to support students earlier and more meaningfully in their decision-making journey. At GEA, our approach is firmly student-centric, grounded in ethical counselling, service quality, and long-term outcomes rather than short-term conversions.

At the same time, this expansion strengthens our role as a true partner to universities worldwide. By combining local market insight with rigorous quality controls, we help institutions access well-matched, high-quality students, while maintaining consistency, transparency, and service excellence across the recruitment lifecycle.” - Shubendu Chowdhry, Managing Director - South Asia, GEA

As part of this expansion, students and channel partners in South Asia will gain access to a broader mix of destinations. Alongside traditional study markets, GEA’s partnerships in Malaysia, China, and Hong Kong will offer additional pathways that align with student demand for quality education, affordability, and regional career opportunities.

This expansion marks the beginning of a deeper, more structured engagement with South Asia, reinforcing GEA’s commitment to supporting its partners in one of the world’s most dynamic international education markets.