WEP
WEP (World Education Program) is an Italian educational travel and cultural exchange operator, founded 1988, arranging study abroad, language courses, and exchange programs for students aged 11-24 across 65+ countries, serving 30,000+ participants via five Italian offices and a digital platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersMilan, Italy
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What WEP does
WEP (World Education Program), legally WEP S.r.l., is an Italian educational travel and cultural exchange organization founded in 1988 and operating in Italy since 1995. The company arranges study abroad, language immersion, and cultural exchange programs for students aged 11-24 and their families, serving more than 30,000 cumulative participants across 65+ destinations including the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, Spain, France, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand. Core offerings span school-year abroad programs (Classic, Classic+, Flex, Boarding School), group study vacations, language courses (1-52 weeks), solidarity trips, the Doppio Diploma (US diploma via online credits), university programs, au pair placements, work-and-travel programs, and post-diploma experiences.
WEP runs a direct-to-consumer go-to-market via five Italian offices (Milano, Torino, Roma, Treviso, Bologna), a digital platform including the MyWEP participant portal and wep.it website, in-person informative meetings, online WEP Talk webinars, and an active social presence across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and LinkedIn. The company also serves Italian schools via Consip framework agreements and corporate clients through its WEP per le Aziende corporate welfare program. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time program participation fees, with deposits (€2,000 for school-year programs), installment plans, optional add-ons such as the 6% cancellation guarantee, and scholarship funding. The underlying technology is conventional web infrastructure — online booking, document management portals, and video consultations — without disclosed AI capabilities, integrations, or platform APIs.
WEP holds a strong compliance and certification footprint: it is the first Italian agency with CSIET certification (required for J-1 visa sponsorship in the USA), is B Corporation certified, GDPR-compliant, and a member of ASTOI, UNITER, IALC Elite, English UK, WYSE Travel Confederation, ALTO, and the NSISP Preferred Agent 2025-2026 program. The company adheres to the TOP SECURE insolvency guarantee fund under EU Directive 2015/2302 and maintains civil liability coverage with Unipol Assicurazioni. No funding rounds, M&A activity, or public financial disclosures are recorded in the available sources.
WEP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WEP
- Legal name
- WEP S.r.l.
- Website
- https://wep.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- WEP (World Education Program) is an Italian educational travel and cultural exchange operator, founded 1988, arranging study abroad, language courses, and exchange programs for students aged 11-24 across 65+ countries, serving 30,000+ participants via five Italian offices and a digital platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WEP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Travel and Study Abroad Services
- NAICS
- Language Schools (611630), Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB), Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD), Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE), On-Ground Orientation, Travel, Transfers & Logistics Support (EDAIAHAL)
Keywords
Where WEP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milan
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
WEP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Educational Program Fees: WEP charges participation fees for its various programs including school years abroad, language courses, group study vacations, university programs, work experiences, and solidarity trips. Fees vary by program type, destination, duration, and level of customization. The revenue model is primarily one-time fees per program with additional optional add-ons such as the 'Garanzia annullamento programma WEP' cancellation guarantee (6% of program fee).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | School Year Abroad Programs |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | University Abroad Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Language Courses Abroad |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Sports Scholarship Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Double Diploma Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
WEP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WEP (World Education Program) organizes and delivers educational travel and cultural exchange programs for students aged 11-24 and adults. Core offerings include school year abroad programs (Classic, Classic+, Flex, Boarding School), group study vacations with language immersion, language courses abroad (1-52 weeks), solidarity trips, university programs, double diploma (American high school diploma via online credits), au pair placements, work and travel programs, and sports scholarship consulting. Programs are delivered across 65+ destinations worldwide with host family accommodation, school enrollment, insurance, and 24/7 support throughout the participant's experience.
Product overview
WEP (World Education Program) is a comprehensive educational travel and cultural exchange organization offering a portfolio of study abroad programs for students of all ages. The core offerings include school programs abroad (ages 14-19), group study vacations (ages 11-20), language courses abroad (all ages), solidarity trips (ages 15-24), university programs, work experiences, and au pair placements. Specialized programs include the Doppio Diploma (double diploma) for American high school credentials via online credits, and Sports Scholarships for university placements. WEP also provides institutional services for schools via Consip agreements and corporate welfare programs for companies. Programs are offered across 65+ countries with host family accommodations, school enrollment, insurance, and comprehensive support before, during, and after the experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- School Programs Abroad (Programmi scolastici all'estero) High school study abroad programs for students aged 14-19, including Classic, Classic+, Flex, and Boarding School options. Programs include host family accommodation, school enrollment, insurance, and pre-departure preparation. Durations range from 2 months (bimester) to 11 months (full school year).
- Group Study Vacations (Vacanze studio di gruppo) Supervised group study trips for students aged 11-20, combining language learning with cultural activities and excursions. Includes accommodation in host families or residences.
- Language Courses Abroad (Corsi di lingua all'estero) Language immersion courses abroad for all ages, lasting from 1 to 52 weeks. Programs include accommodation options in host families or residences. Minimum 5 students required per class for course duration guarantees.
- Group Solidarity Trips (Viaggi solidali di gruppo) Community service and solidarity programs abroad for young people aged 15-24, combining humanitarian work with cultural immersion.
- Double Diploma Program (Doppio Diploma) Program enabling students to earn an American high school diploma by completing 4-6 online credits. Offers flexibility with online coursework while gaining international credentials. Registration fee €500, first installment €1,500, final balance varies by credit count.
- Sports Scholarship Program (Borsa di Studio Sportiva) Consulting service helping students evaluate scholarship offers to attend universities, particularly for athletic scholarships. Registration fee €250, first installment €1,000, balance €1,750 at offer acceptance.
- University Programs Abroad (Programmi Universitari all'estero) University study abroad programs and consulting services for higher education placements internationally, including assistance with applications and scholarship opportunities. 35% deposit at confirmation, balance due 30 days before departure.
- Au Pair Programs (Alla Pari) Au pair and childcare exchange programs allowing participants to live with host families while providing childcare services and experiencing cultural immersion.
- Jobs&Travel (Work and Travel) Work and travel programs combining professional experience with travel opportunities abroad for young adults.
- Post-Diploma Programs (Programmi post-diploma) Gap year and post-secondary programs for students aged 18+ seeking international experience before or after university.
- WEP per le Aziende / Welfare Aziendale (Corporate Welfare Programs) Corporate wellness programs and employee benefits solutions offering study abroad and cultural exchange opportunities for companies as part of their employee welfare offering.
- WEP per la Scuola (Institutional School Programs) Specialized programs and agreements for schools, including Consip framework agreements for public educational institutions in Italy. Offers student exchange coordination and recognition of coursework abroad.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30,000+ students have completed programs abroad
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use WEP
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
WEP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
WEP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CSIET (Council on Standards for International Educational Travel)coreWEP is the first Italian agency with CSIET certification, a prestigious US recognition that attests to the excellence and reliability of exchange programs. This certification is essential for J-1 visa sponsorship in the USA.
- B Lab (B Corporation)coreWEP holds B Corporation certification, demonstrating commitment to social and environmental performance standards.
- ASTOI ItaliaminorMembership in the Italian Tour Operators Association for industry representation and standards.
- IALC (International Association of Language Centres)minorElite partner status for access to quality language schools worldwide.
- English UKminorPartner agency status for UK English language education programs.
- Education New ZealandminorAgency partner for New Zealand educational programs and study abroad opportunities.
- Austrade (Australian Government)minorAussie Specialist Program member for Australian educational travel programs.
- NSISP (Nova Scotia International Student Program)minorPreferred Agent status 2025-2026 for Nova Scotia, Canada student programs.
- WYSE Travel ConfederationminorMembership in the world youth, student, and educational travel network.
- UNITERminorMembership in the association for international education exchange organizations.
- ALTOminorMembership in the international network of language travel organizations.
- TOP SECURE (Insurance Guarantee Fund)coreWEP has adhered to the TOP SECURE fund (via A. Volta, 3 - 22060 Campione d'Italia - CO) as guarantee against bankruptcy and insolvency pursuant to EU Directive 2015/2302, ensuring participant refunds and repatriation in case of insolvency.
- Unipol Assicurazioni S.p.A.coreWEP has a civil liability insurance policy with Unipol Assicurazioni S.p.A. (Policy n. 210424863) covering program operations.
- Allianz Global Assistance (Globy)minorAlternative optional cancellation insurance product (Globy Giallo Plus) available to participants as an alternative to WEP's own guarantee.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WEP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- STS High School Study Abroad: European provider of high school study abroad and language immersion programs (originating in Scandinavia). Direct competitor to WEP's secondary school abroad and language course portfolio in European source markets.
- Aspect Foundation: Non-profit international student exchange organization focused on high school student programs. Directly comparable to WEP's secondary-school exchange offering with similar host-family model.
- Nacel Educational Travel: International educational travel organization offering high school, language, and group programs. Closely mirrors WEP's product breadth across secondary exchange, language courses, and group study vacations.
- AFS Intercultural Programs: Global intercultural exchange organization offering high school exchanges, study abroad, and language immersion. Highly comparable to WEP across secondary-school exchange and hosted program model.
- YFU (Youth For Understanding): International nonprofit specializing in high school student exchange programs. Directly competes with WEP's 'Anno all'estero' and semester/trimester exchange products, operating a global network of host families and partner schools.
- ESL Language Travel: European-language-study-abroad agency placing students in partner language schools worldwide. Comparable to WEP's language courses abroad product and host-family/residence offerings across multiple destinations.
- CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Major nonprofit provider of high school exchange, study abroad, and cultural exchange programs. Closely mirrors WEP's secondary-school exchange and language-immersion offerings, including J-1 visa sponsorship capabilities similar to WEP's CSIET certification.
- EF Education First: Global leader in educational travel, language courses abroad, and cultural exchange programs. Directly comparable to WEP across language immersion, high school abroad, and group study programs, though operating at much larger global scale across many source countries.
Broad incumbents
- Kaplan International Languages: Large, established language-school operator with global destinations. Comparable to WEP's 'Corsi di lingua all'estero' line, but operates as a broader incumbent owning schools directly rather than via agency partnerships.
Others
- ALTO (Association of Language Travel Organisations): Industry association for language travel organizations of which WEP is a member. Adjacent/ecosystem player that connects and accredits agencies like WEP, making it a relevant industry-context peer rather than a direct commercial competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WEP social profiles
Digital presenceWEP compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
WEP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WEP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
WEP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WEP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WEP
What does WEP do?
WEP (World Education Program) organizes and delivers educational travel and cultural exchange programs for students aged 11-24 and adults. Core offerings include school year abroad programs (Classic, Classic+, Flex, Boarding School), group study vacations with language immersion, language courses abroad (1-52 weeks), solidarity trips, university programs, double diploma (American high school diploma via online credits), au pair placements, work and travel programs, and sports scholarship consulting. Programs are delivered across 65+ destinations worldwide with host family accommodation, school enrollment, insurance, and 24/7 support throughout the participant's experience.
Is WEP a public or private company?
WEP is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was WEP founded?
WEP was founded in 1988. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is WEP based?
WEP is headquartered in Milan, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does WEP make money?
One revenue line is on record: educational Program Fees.
Who are WEP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are STS High School Study Abroad, Aspect Foundation, Nacel Educational Travel, AFS Intercultural Programs, YFU (Youth For Understanding), ESL Language Travel, CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) and EF Education First. Kaplan International Languages is listed as a broad incumbent. ALTO (Association of Language Travel Organisations) is listed as an others.
Does WEP have an API?
No public API is recorded for WEP.
What industry is WEP in?
WEP's product category is Educational Travel and Study Abroad Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAGAE, Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs, with a secondary code of EDAIAHAB, Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester). Its NAICS code is 611630 and its SIC code is 8200.