Education Canada Group

What Education Canada Group does

Education Canada Group (ECG) is a Winnipeg-headquartered, privately-held holding company that acquires and operates private post-secondary colleges in Canada. Established in January 2011 by Chicago-based private equity firm Maxim Partners, ECG's portfolio is anchored by Robertson College, a career-training institution founded in 1911 that operates three Western Canadian campuses (Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton) collectively branded as OneRobertson, plus a national online division (Robertson Online). The company offers diploma and advanced diploma programs in Business, Health Care, Community Services, and Technology, supported by the D2L Brightspace learning management system that powers online course delivery.

ECG's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across two distinct student segments: domestic Canadian students seeking practical, career-focused training with flexible in-class or online delivery, and international students — now approximately two-thirds of the student base — recruited through overseas partnerships and attracted by pathway programs linking graduation to Canadian permanent residency via Post-Graduation Work Permits. The company monetizes almost entirely through tuition fees; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed and prospective students are directed to contact the institution. In February 2022, ECG layered two adjacent products onto its core diploma offering — a Complementary Learning Model combining online instruction with on-campus practical training, and Micro Credentials designed for rapid upskilling — both positioned as responses to Canadian labour shortages.

The organization is led by CEO Liz Choi (appointed December 2021) and Executive Chair Paul Holden, both of whom joined ECG in 2017, with Maxim Partners Managing Partner Gregg Wilson sitting on the Board. ECG has approximately 251-500 employees and reports over 3,000 student starts annually. BDC Capital's Growth & Transition Capital participated in a 2021 financing event, providing institutional validation alongside Maxim Partners' continued ownership.

Name

Education Canada Group

Legal name

Education Canada Group

Website

https://educationcanadagroup.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Education Canada Group is a Winnipeg-based holding company operating Robertson College, a private post-secondary institution with three Western Canadian campuses and a national online division delivering diploma programs in Business, Health Care, Community Services, and Technology to domestic and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Post-Secondary Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Short-Term Certificate & Micro-Credential Programs (International) (EDAIAIAI), Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB), Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE)

Keywords

• Private post-secondary education
• Career-focused diploma programs
• Online college education
• International student pathways
• Micro-credentials training

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Post-Secondary Tuition: Education Canada Group generates revenue through tuition fees charged to students for diploma and certificate programs in Business, Health Care, Community Services, and Technology fields. Programs are offered both in-class at campuses and online, with tuition varying by program type and delivery format.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Education Canada Group operates as a portfolio of private post-secondary education brands, primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiary Robertson College. It offers diploma and advanced diploma programs in Business, Health Care, Community Services, and Technology through three physical campuses in Western Canada (Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton) and a comprehensive online division. The company also serves international students with specialized pathway programs to permanent residency, micro-credentials for upskilling, and a Complementary Learning model combining online and on-campus instruction.

Product overview

Education Canada Group operates as a portfolio of private post-secondary education brands, with Robertson College as its core brand. Robertson College offers diploma and advanced diploma programs across Business, Health Care, Community Services, and Technology through three physical campuses in Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton (collectively branded as OneRobertson) plus a dedicated online division. The product portfolio includes Robertson Online for distance learning, a Complementary Learning Model combining online instruction with on-campus practical training, and micro credentials for rapid upskilling. International programs serve students seeking pathways to Canadian education and permanent residency. A Brightspace-powered learning platform supports all online delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Robertson College Diploma and Advanced Diploma Programs Private post-secondary institution offering diploma and advanced diploma programs in Business, Health Care, Community Services, and Technology across campuses in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and online. Targets domestic and international students seeking practical, career-focused education.
• Robertson Online The online division of Robertson College offering 100% online programs to students across Canada, providing flexibility with 24/7 course materials, full student services, and employment specialist support. Open to Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents residing in Canada.
• International Student Programs Diploma programs in Business and Health for international students with specialized recruitment, screening, and a Practical Applied Culture and Employment (PACE) course for multicultural professional preparation. Includes pathway partnerships with public colleges in Manitoba to provide Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility.
• Complementary Learning Model A program delivery model combining mostly online instruction with essential on-campus hands-on training, featuring shorter duration and rolling intake dates, designed to address labour shortages through rapid upskilling.
• Micro Credentials Affordable, self-scheduled credential programs that can be completed independently, designed for upskilling and rapid entry into in-demand occupations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 student starts annually
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Public College in ManitobacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020A partnership with a public college in Manitoba established in 2020 to offer international students an alternative pathway to permanent residency. Students graduating from these programs are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), allowing them to work anywhere in Manitoba. The new programs were introduced in in-demand occupations according to Manitoba's labour market.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aspire Canada (formerly Aspen) / Academy of Learning Career College: National Canadian private career college franchise system offering diploma and certificate programs through owned and franchised campuses. Competes head-to-head on the same private post-secondary, career-focused, learner-funded model.
• triOS College: Canadian private career college with business, technology, healthcare, and law programs delivered on-campus and online across multiple provinces. Directly competes on the same private post-secondary diploma and international student pathway positioning as Robertson.
• CDI College: One of Canada's largest private career college networks, offering diploma programs across business, healthcare, technology, and trades at multiple campuses nationwide. Operates a private post-secondary platform with similar program mix and online delivery to Robertson College.
• Herzing College: Canadian private career college focused on technology, healthcare, and business diplomas across multiple campuses and online. Comparable on program mix, online vs in-class delivery, and international student positioning.
• Reeves College: Western Canadian private career college offering diploma programs in business, healthcare, and technology in Calgary and other Alberta cities. Direct geographic peer to Robertson's Calgary/Edmonton campuses with overlapping program offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Athabasca University: Canada's open, online-focused public university serving remote and flexible learners nationwide. Represents the scaled online-learning benchmark against which Robertson Online must compete on flexibility, price, and credential recognition.
• RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) — Relevant only as adjacent reference; substitute with LaSalle College: Large Canadian private college network (Quebec-anchored) with programs in fashion, business, technology, and healthcare, including international student recruitment. Comparable for scale of operations, program breadth, and private career college business model across Canada.
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT): Public polytechnic institution in Calgary offering diploma and applied degree programs across business, health, and technology — a competing destination for the same career-focused students Robertson targets in Alberta, at typically subsidized tuition.
• Red River College Polytechnic (now Red River College): Manitoba's largest public polytechnic, headquartered in Winnipeg and a direct local competitor for diploma-seeking and international students in the same programs Robertson offers. Notable because ECG's public-college partnership is with a Manitoba public peer.

Regional players

• Columbia College Calgary: Private post-secondary institution based in Calgary offering university transfer and diploma programs. Operates in the same Alberta private education market as Robertson's Calgary campus and competes for similar student demographics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Education Canada Group