International Study Programs

What International Study Programs does

International Study Programs (ISP) is a Prague-headquartered, privately held B2B2C experiential learning provider founded in 1999 by Viktoria Kish. The company partners with universities, business schools, and corporate clients to design and deliver customized short-term international study trips, ranging from faculty-led undergraduate excursions to MBA and EMBA global immersions. Service offerings include the flagship flexible Study Trips, the 2025-launched ISP Go ready-to-run product, SDG-aligned Consulting Projects, and Service Learning Trips in Global South destinations, supported by a 70+ person multilingual team operating from a LEED- and Well Gold-certified Prague office.

ISP's technology layer centers on Microsoft Dynamics365 for CRM, a custom Travel Zone desktop platform, and a Travel Zone mobile companion app that delivers real-time itineraries, company visit details, speaker bios, event reviews, and emergency contacts to participants. Programs are sold exclusively through direct enterprise field sales to deans, faculty administrators, and program directors, with no self-service or marketplace channel. Pricing is fully quote-based and customized to destination, group size, duration, and inclusions, with a 60%/40% payment schedule tied to contract signing and 45 days before departure. Across 26+ years ISP has served 245+ institutions, delivered 2,700+ tours to 60,000+ participants across 70+ countries, and reports an 86% retention rate and 98/100 client satisfaction rating.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees across the four product lines, with sister brands The Global Exec. (executive and corporate immersions, launched 2020) and Muzivision (video/multimedia production) extending the offering. Strategic ecosystem partners include Inspire Citizens, Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, SOZO Foundation, Hands-On Institute, and Prague University of Economics and Business (VSE). The company maintains $3 million in worldwide liability insurance and $4.5 million in cybersecurity coverage, is GDPR-compliant, and is a member of the UN Global Compact. Tomas Chalupnik has served as CEO since 2020, with Viktoria Kish continuing as Founder/President.

Name

International Study Programs

Legal name

International Study Programs, s.r.o.

Website

https://studyprograms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

International Study Programs (ISP) is a Prague-based B2B2C experiential learning provider, founded in 1999, that designs and delivers customized short-term international study trips for universities, business schools, and corporate clients across 70+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Travel and Experiential Learning Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faculty-Led & Custom Group Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE), Short-Term & Summer/Winter Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAF), Thematic & Discipline-Specific Study Abroad Programs (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAAAC), Study Abroad Program Operators (THAKAGAD), University & College Study Tours (THAKAGAC)

Keywords

• Customized study abroad programs
• Experiential learning services
• Faculty-led educational travel
• University study trips
• Service learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlin

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Study Abroad Program Services: ISP generates revenue by organizing and delivering customized short-term study abroad programs for academic institutions. Revenue is derived from service fees covering program design, logistics, on-ground management, accommodation, transportation, company visits, cultural activities, and academic content integration. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to each program's specific requirements including destination, group size, duration, and inclusions.
2. ISP Go Ready-to-Run Programs: Streamlined pre-designed study program versions for smaller groups and institutions seeking more accessible international experiences. These provide standardized itineraries with expert support at potentially lower price points.
3. Consulting Projects: Real-world consulting projects aligned with sustainable development goals, connecting student cohorts with NGOs and impact-driven organizations. Offered in on-the-ground, online, and hybrid formats with pricing based on format and duration.
4. Service Learning Trips: Programs combining academic study with community service in Global South destinations, supporting areas such as social sciences, healthcare, engineering, and sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

International Study Programs designs and delivers customized short-term study abroad and experiential learning programs for universities, business schools, and professional organizations. Programs cover logistics (accommodation, transport, company visits, cultural activities), academic content integration, and on-ground program management across 150+ destinations worldwide. The company also offers a proprietary Travel Zone mobile app and platform that provides real-time itineraries, speaker information, and trip management for participants.

Product overview

International Study Programs offers a portfolio of experiential learning services for academic institutions, centered around customizable short-term study abroad programs. The core offerings include Study Trips (the flagship flexible short-term programs), ISP Go (streamlined ready-to-run versions), Consulting Projects (SDG-aligned real-world business consulting), and Service Learning Trips (community-focused educational experiences). The Travel Zone App serves as a mobile companion for participants, providing real-time itineraries, speaker information, and local recommendations. Together, these services provide a comprehensive solution for universities seeking global experiential learning with logistics management, academic alignment, and on-ground support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISP Go: Streamlined versions of flagship study programs, built for smaller groups, shorter prep times and institutions seeking more accessible international experiences with pre-designed, destination-specific itineraries
• Travel Zone
• The Global Exec.

Products and services

• Study Trips

Quantifiable outcome

• 98/100 client satisfaction rating
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Global Exec.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 18 June 2020Sister company specializing in global business immersions and executive education. Monika Macenauer serves as Head of The Global Exec. The partnership extends ISP's capabilities into executive and professional MBA segments with high-end business immersion experiences.
• VSE (Vysoká škola ekonomická)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2020ISP and VSE's new partnership aims to deliver high-quality education and innovations to clients throughout the world, combining academic expertise with experiential learning program design.
• Inspire CitizenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISP partnered with Inspire Citizens to redefine global education through immersive service-learning trips that connect students with real-world challenges. Inspire Citizens provides Value-Add Consulting to help educators align each program with school missions, learning objectives, and broader academic vision, making trips transformative experiences that deepen educational and leadership opportunities.
• Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRwanda-based youth village serving as a service learning destination. ASYV welcomes international student groups to share their mission with a global audience, creating mutual learning and long-term relationships. Hosting groups at the Village builds understanding, respect, and cross-cultural collaboration.
• SOZO FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCape Town, South Africa-based foundation. Partnering with ISP and hosting university groups has been valuable for the foundation and community. Engagements help young people apply skills in real-world settings, building confidence and financial independence. Long-term partnership strengthens cross-cultural learning and contributes directly to community upliftment in Vrygrond.
• Hands-On InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization, particularly for Nepal programs. Bijay Poudel, Founder, provides insight on how long-term partnerships shape service learning on the ground, ensuring sustainable and impactful community engagement.
• MuzivisionminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSister company under The Global Exec. umbrella. Jana Zdenkova serves as Head of Muzivision. Provides multimedia and video production capabilities for program documentation and marketing.
• UN Global CompactminorOthersISP is a member of the UN Global Compact, committing to sustainable and responsible business practices aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Budějický BudvarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech Republic's iconic brand partnered with University of Alabama EMBA students for consulting projects, providing real-world business challenges and local industry insights.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WorldStrides: One of the largest US-based providers of educational travel and experiential learning programs for K-12 and university students. Directly comparable as a multi-destination operator serving academic institutions with global immersion trips, though at significantly larger scale and broader K-12 footprint than ISP.
• EF Education First (EF Academic): Global education company with academic programs and study abroad offerings for schools and universities. Broader portfolio (language travel, university pathways, K-12), but competes for the same faculty and institutional buyers in customized short-term programs.

Direct peers

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Major nonprofit study abroad provider offering customized faculty-led and short-term programs for US colleges and universities. Highly comparable as a B2B partner to academic institutions delivering multi-destination experiential learning, overlapping directly with ISP's faculty-led custom offering.
• IES Abroad: Chicago-based nonprofit providing study abroad programs and custom faculty-led global experiences for hundreds of US universities. Comparable buyer base (university administrators and faculty), comparable B2B2C motion and overlapping product set in short-term, multi-country programs.
• API (Academic Programs International): US-based provider of study abroad programs for university students with strong faculty-led and customized program offerings across multiple continents. Direct overlap with ISP in custom multi-country programs delivered to US business schools and undergraduate institutions.
• CIS Abroad: Study abroad provider offering custom faculty-led, short-term and semester programs to US universities. Comparable buyer (deans, faculty, program directors) and product mix (custom group programs, service learning, multi-destination). Mid-sized direct competitor.
• CEA Study Abroad: Provider of study abroad and faculty-led programs for US colleges and universities with a network of global destinations. Directly comparable in serving the same academic buyer with customized global immersion programs and on-site support.
• SAI Programs: US-based study abroad organization offering customized faculty-led programs and semester options to US universities, with strong Italy/Europe focus. Comparable as a B2B partner to academic institutions running multi-country experiential programs.
• Global Experiences: Provider of customized faculty-led and short-term study abroad programs for US universities, with strong Europe footprint. Closely comparable in custom group program design, on-site management and academic alignment for business school cohorts.

Emerging players

• MISTI (MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives): MIT's own global experiential learning arm that also partners with select universities. Comparable as a faculty-led, custom-built study abroad model, though embedded in a single institution and not a commercial competitor at ISP's scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/studyprograms
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ISPtube
• Facebookfacebook.com/internationalstudyprograms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/55601
• Instagraminstagram.com/internationalstudyprograms

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 International Study Programs