Obreal

Name

Obreal

Legal name

Obreal

Website

https://obreal.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Higher Education Cooperation Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual/Blended Exchange (COIL) Partnerships (EDAIABAH), Virtual Recruitment Events, Fairs & Webinar Platforms (EDAIACAF), Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE)

Keywords

• International education cooperation
• Higher education policy dialogue
• Interregional university partnerships
• Capacity building programmes
• Erasmus+ project coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU-Funded Project Grants: Obreal generates revenue primarily through co-funded projects with the European Union, including Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education programs, Horizon Europe projects, and other EU development cooperation initiatives.
2. Membership Fees: Obreal operates as an international association with 100+ members including universities and institutional stakeholders who contribute to the organization's operations.
3. Capacity Building and Training Services: The organization delivers training workshops, seminars, and capacity-building programs for partner institutions, ministries, and universities across different regions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Obreal convenes governments, regional bodies, universities, and multilateral institutions through its Interregional Dialogue Process and a portfolio of EU-funded programs (HAQAA3, SPHERE, IMPACT HE, EnoTour, GastroTour, UniCoCreate, YouthWell) to advance higher education cooperation, quality assurance harmonization, and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, Europe, the Arab World, and China. As a membership-based international association, it also delivers training, courses, and the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) methodology, while producing policy briefs, position papers, and a podcast series.

Product overview

Obreal is an international association (not a technology company) that operates as a platform of initiatives, programs, and content focused on interregional cooperation in higher education. Its core offerings include the Interregional Dialogue Process (a flagship initiative convening stakeholders across regions), educational programs through Courses and Webinar Series, and multiple Erasmus+-funded projects including HAQAA3 (quality assurance in African higher education), SPHERE (European neighborhood reform), IMPACT HE (African university development), EnoTour/GastroTour (wine/gastronomy tourism innovation), UniCoCreate (university-industry collaboration in SADC), and YouthWell (youth empowerment). The organization also produces a podcast and publishes knowledge documents. These offerings form an integrated ecosystem supporting higher education cooperation, quality assurance, skills development, and policy dialogue across Africa, Latin America, Europe, and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HAQAA3: Harmonisation, Accreditation, and Quality Assurance in African Higher Education initiative (2023-2028)
• SPHERE
• IMPACT HE
• EnoTour
• YouthWell
• UniCoCreate

Products and services

• Interregional Dialogue Process A flagship initiative bringing together governments, regional organisations, universities, research centres, scientific networks, funding agencies and multilateral institutions from different Souths and Norths to turn interregional cooperation into concrete agendas, instruments and long-term capacities, including dialogue spaces, community engagement, and knowledge documents.
• Courses and Webinar Series Educational offerings including the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Methodology for connecting faculty and students internationally, and training programs in climate change, tourism, and circular economy.
• HAQAA3 (Harmonisation, Accreditation, and Quality Assurance in African Higher Education) A European Union-funded initiative coordinated by Obreal supporting quality assurance harmonization and integration in African higher education, running from 2023 to 2028.
• SPHERE (Support for Higher Education Reform Experts) A project coordinated by Obreal and EUA providing centralised support to the network of higher education reform experts, focusing on higher education reform in the European neighborhood.
• IMPACT HE An Erasmus+ Capacity Building project designed to strengthen African universities as agents of local development, focusing on project management, institutional monitoring, and partnership development in Kenya and Ethiopia.
• EnoTour An Erasmus+ Alliance for Innovation project coordinated with University Rovira i Virgili focusing on MOOC development for skilling in wine tourism, building innovation ecosystems between universities, businesses and territories.
• GastroTour An Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project developing dynamic learning offers in gastronomy and wine tourism sectors, focusing on diversity, sustainability and cultural heritage in Georgia and South Africa.
• UniCoCreate An Erasmus+ Capacity Building project redefining university-industry collaboration in SADC, embedding entrepreneurship into higher education institutions, modernizing curricula, and fostering innovation.
• YouthWell An EU co-funded initiative creating networks of resilient, informed and active young people through collaboration, mental health promotion and active citizenship, including an e-learning platform and Open Educational Resources.
• Obreal Podcast A podcast series exploring topics of international cooperation, borders and inclusive societies, featuring episodes on cooperation as shared responsibility and the sound of borders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95+ implemented projects demonstrating sustained international cooperation activity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2026UNESCO and Obreal have signed a Letter of Intent formalizing strategic cooperation in support of inclusive, high-quality, and internationally connected education systems, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNESCO participates as a strategic partner on the HAQAA3 Steering Committee and collaborates on quality assurance, degree recognition, academic mobility, and interregional dialogue.
• Province of Buenos Aires, ArgentinastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Signed cooperation agreement for collaboration in innovation, education, technology, and digital transformation. Joint coordination of activities includes co-designing public policies, identifying implementable projects, and connecting public ecosystems across Catalonia and Latin America.
• African Union CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe African Union Commission is a key co-organizer of the Fourth Interregional Dialogue on Education and Development, hosting the event at its headquarters in Addis Ababa. The Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation participates actively in Obreal initiatives and signed a cooperation agreement with the Government of Colombia.
• Association of African Universities (AAU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAU is a key institutional partner represented on the Interregional Council. The Secretary General, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, serves as an Interregional Council member. AAU participates in HAQAA initiative and interregional dialogue activities.
• Association of Arab Universities (AARU)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAARU is a co-organizer of the Fourth Interregional Dialogue and represents the expansion of the dialogue process to include the Arab world and Arabic as a working language.
• World Trade Organization (WTO)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWTO and Obreal co-organize events including the WTO Chairs Programme Annual Conference and trade/multilateralism conferences. Obreal participates in WCP activities and provides platform for interregional dialogue on trade and higher education.
• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAAD is a key supporter of the Interregional Dialogue Process and organizes joint workshops (Co-creating knowledge with Africa in Bled). DAAD representatives participate in project activities and expert panels.
• VLIR-UOS (Flemish Interuniversity Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLIR-UOS supports the Interregional Dialogue Process and participates in strategic partner meetings. The organization is a co-author of the Position Paper on AU-EU cooperation in higher education.
• CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCELAC Pro Tempore Presidency (held by Uruguay) is a co-organizer of the Fourth Interregional Dialogue. The Government of Colombia announced a CELAC-Africa summit as an outcome of the Third Interregional Dialogue.
• Government of CataloniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment of Catalonia is a key institutional supporter of Obreal, providing core funding and hosting the headquarters in Barcelona. The Government drives the interregional approach linking Catalonia with other regions.
• UNESCO-INRULEDstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education, based in China, is a supporting partner of the Fourth Interregional Dialogue. Facilitates Obreal's partnerships with Chinese universities and associations.
• Pan African UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAU is a co-organizer of the AfCFTA Conference and participant in WTO Chairs Programme activities. The institution collaborates on research fellowships and postgraduate programs.
• EUA (European University Association)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUA co-coordinates the SPHERE Initiative with Obreal, focusing on higher education reform in EU neighboring countries.
• Areni GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network for cooperation in the fine wine industry. Obreal participates in Areni Global meetings and contributes to whitepapers on wine education and tourism.
• FAUBAI (Brazilian Association for International Education)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian association for international education. Co-hosted events at APAIE Delhi and facilitates South-South cooperation discussions including Brazil-India partnerships.
• Symbiosis International UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerObreal member and partner in India Chapter. Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar serves as Interregional Council member. Contributes to South-South cooperation discussions and FICCI roundtable events.
• FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted roundtable on India as Motor for South South Cooperation. FICCI provides platform for match-making between Indian universities and Global South partners.
• IUCEA (Inter-University Council for East Africa)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerObreal participated in IUCEA meetings in Kinshasa and conducted working visits to strengthen relationships with IUCEA region institutions (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania).
• ANUIES (National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions of Mexico)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly organized capacity-building workshop in Mexico City for strengthening international cooperation project design and management among Mexican universities.
• AQU CatalunyastrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQuality assurance agency in Catalonia. Co-designed and facilitated doctoral training quality assurance study visit program alongside Obreal, URV, and University of Montpellier.
• CAMES (Conseil Africain et Malgache pour l'Enseignement Supérieur)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in CAMES ministerial meeting on higher education policies in Africa, addressing recognition of qualifications and quality assurance systems.
• SARUA (South African Universities' Network)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in UNIICo-Create project and co-author of Position Paper on AU-EU cooperation. Represents South African universities in regional integration efforts.
• THENSAstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerObreal collaborated with THENSA in developing UNIICo-Create project proposal. THENSA provides strategic leadership in the SADC university-industry collaboration initiative.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• ENLACES (Latin American and Caribbean Higher Education Area): Regional HE coordination body for Latin America and the Caribbean with which Obreal's Vice President (Executive Director of ASCUN) is directly involved via the ENLACES Governing Council. ENLACES shares Obreal's intergovernmental-dialogue DNA but operates only within Latin America/Caribbean scope.
• FAUBAI (Brazilian Association for International Education): Brazilian association for international education co-hosting APAIE and related events with Obreal. FAUBAI operates a comparable membership-and-events model but is anchored to Brazil as its primary geographic sponsor, lacking Obreal's multi-continental reach.

Direct peers

• Association of African Universities (AAU): Accra-based association of African universities coordinating continental HE initiatives, including HAQAA quality assurance and intergovernmental policy dialogue with the African Union. AAU is a strategic partner of Obreal's Interregional Dialogue Process and operates the same convening-plus-grant-management model across a regional scope.
• European University Association (EUA): Brussels-based membership association representing over 850 universities and national rectors' conferences across Europe. Comparable to Obreal as a pan-regional higher-education convening organization that co-coordinates the SPHERE Initiative with Obreal and engages EU institutions on reform, quality assurance, and internationalization.
• Academic Cooperation Association (ACA): Brussels-based umbrella of organizations active in international cooperation in higher education, with shared focus on Erasmus+ capacity building, policy dialogue, and mobility programs. ACA mirrors Obreal's role as a multi-region coordination node for HE internationalization, just on a more European-anchored base.
• NAFSA: Association of International Educators: US-headquartered membership association for international education professionals, with comparable event/conference-driven model (annual conference, training programs, policy advocacy). NAFSA is the closest peer to Obreal's community-led GTM motion, although geographically and thematically it focuses on US/global mobility rather than interregional South-South-North dialogue.

Emerging players

• Campus France: French national agency promoting higher education and managing international student mobility programs across Francophone and global markets. Campus France is similar to Obreal in policy-dialogue and internationalization support but is anchored to a single sending country rather than multi-region convening.

Broad incumbents

• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): Germany's largest higher-education cooperation organization with a much larger scale and broader scholarship/grant portfolio. DAAD is a core partner of Obreal's Interregional Dialogue Process and co-organized the Bled "Co-creating knowledge with Africa" workshop, occupying an adjacent incumbent role in the same ecosystem.
• British Council: UK-based public organization with global footprint delivering English language training, higher-education partnerships, cultural exchange, and policy dialogue. Operates the same convening-plus-capacity-building model Obreal employs, but at much larger scale with a wider cultural/development remit.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): US-headquartered nonprofit administering the Fulbright program and other international academic exchange initiatives. IIE shares Obreal's membership-driven international-cooperation focus but operates at significantly larger scale and with predominantly transatlantic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OBREAL_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@obreal_
• Facebookfacebook.com/OBREALGlobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/obreal
• Instagraminstagram.com/obreal_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Obreal