Institución Internacional SEK

What Institución Internacional SEK does

Institución Internacional SEK operates a multinational K-12 and higher education network headquartered in Madrid, Spain, with the corporate entity (Institución Internacional SEK, S.A.) incorporated in Costa Rica and operating through 26 schools across 17 countries. The network serves more than 25,000 students from early childhood (age 2) through secondary education, plus two universities (SEK Chile University and Universidad Internacional SEK de Ecuador) and one higher education center (IUNIT, Madrid). The institution runs two parallel school brands: SEK Schools (Spanish/bilingual) and IES (International Education Systems, English-language), the latter created in 2006 as an autonomous management branch. Academic programs center on International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, IB Primary Years Programme, and Cambridge curricula, with SEK Chile holding the #1 IB Diploma ranking in Chile for five consecutive years and SEK Guatemala being the first PYP-accredited school in Guatemala.

The business model is tuition-based and recurring: families pay subscription-style fees for multi-year educational continuity, though pricing is not publicly disclosed and prospective families must contact individual schools directly. The GTM motion is direct-to-consumer, anchored by the corporate website (sek.net), social media channels, school visits, and earned media coverage. Revenue is generated across 26 schools, 2 universities, and ancillary programs including INTERSEK sports/cultural competitions, Semana Blanca (Snow Week), Green Week, the Bridge Program for work immersion, summer camps at St. John's, and football clinics at Real Madrid's Ciudad Real Madrid facilities. Teaching technology includes bilingual pedagogies, AR/VR via Apple Vision Pro (first K-12 deployment in Spain), and student content creation using Reality Composer, Tinkercad, Blender, Swift Playgrounds, and Xcode.

The institution is privately held by the Segovia family, with Mónica Segovia assuming the presidency in 2025 (third-generation leadership). It pursues growth through a mixed strategy of wholly-owned subsidiaries and franchise/licensing models, as evidenced by the IES Regal Cairo franchise in Egypt (2025) and the acquisition of Willoughby International School in Madrid (2026). Corporate-level headcount of 49 reflects only the central institution; teaching and operational staff are employed at each individual school. No external investors, revenue disclosures, or public listing are present in the data.

Name

Institución Internacional SEK

Legal name

Institución Internacional SEK, S.A.

Website

https://sek.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Institución Internacional SEK is a family-owned international education network operating 26 schools, 2 universities, and 1 higher education center across 17 countries, serving more than 25,000 students from early childhood through university.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private International Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools (EDAJABAL)

Keywords

• International K-12 education
• International Baccalaureate programs
• Bilingual private schooling
• International school network
• Higher education universities

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Tuition Fees: The institution generates revenue through tuition fees charged to families for educational services spanning early childhood education through university level. Programs include preschool, primary, secondary, and international baccalaureate education across 26 schools globally.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Institución Internacional SEK delivers private international education from Early Childhood (age 2) through Secondary, organized through two sub-brand networks: SEK bilingual schools (Spanish-English) and IES English-language schools. The portfolio includes International Baccalaureate Diploma and Primary Years Programmes, plus higher-education degrees at SEK Chile University, Universidad Internacional SEK de Ecuador, and IUNIT in Madrid, supported by specialized programs in sports, arts, sciences, and international exchanges.

Product overview

Institución Internacional SEK operates a comprehensive international education network consisting of two main school brands: SEK Schools (bilingual Spanish-English institutions in Latin America and Spain) and IES Schools (English-language schools across UK, USA, Hungary, South Africa, Panama, Italy, Portugal, Egypt, and Spain). The institution spans 26 schools, 2 universities (SEK Chile University and Universidad Internacional SEK de Ecuador), and 1 higher education center (IUNIT in Madrid), present in 17 countries with over 25,000 students. The portfolio includes academic programs such as International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and Primary Years Programmes, international exchange programs (Semana Blanca/Snow Week, Green Week), competitive programs (INTERSEK Deportivo and Cultural), summer camps, and specialized programs like the Bridge Program for work immersion and football clinics. Founded in 1892, the institution emphasizes holistic education combining tradition with innovation, preparing students for global challenges through academic excellence and values-based formation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SEK: Spanish and bilingual language international schools network
• IES (International Education Systems)

Products and services

• SEK Schools (Bilingual Spanish-English International Schools) Bilingual Spanish-English international schools in Latin America and Spain offering education from Early Childhood through Secondary, with emphasis on International Baccalaureate programs and holistic development for students aged 2-18.
• IES Schools (English-Language International Schools) English-language international schools within the International Education Systems (IES) branch, operating under autonomous management in the UK, USA, Hungary, South Africa, Panama, Italy, Portugal, Egypt, and Spain.
• SEK Chile University (USEK) University in Santiago, Chile offering higher-education programs as part of the SEK educational network with international recognition.
• Universidad Internacional SEK de Ecuador (UISEK) International university in Quito, Ecuador providing higher education with a global perspective and connections to the SEK school network.
• IUNIT Higher Education Center Higher-education center inaugurated in Madrid in 2019, offering educational programs within the SEK-IES institution.
• INTERSEK Deportivo Annual international sports competition bringing together students from approximately 25 SEK and IES schools worldwide to promote athletic excellence and institutional unity.
• INTERSEK Cultural Cultural competition program featuring disciplines such as robotics, dance, and experimental sciences where SEK/IES students participate.
• Semana Blanca (Snow Week) Annual international winter sports program organized by SEK Chile at Termas de Chillán, promoting skiing, snowboarding skills, and cultural exchange among students from various SEK and IES schools.
• Green Week Costa Rica Environmental awareness program where students acquire knowledge about their surroundings while fostering respect and tolerance values for the environment.
• Bridge Program Work-immersion experience exclusively for students from SEK/IES member schools, providing international professional exposure.
• SEK/IES Madrid Football Clinics Intensive soccer training courses held at Ciudad Real Madrid facilities in Valdebebas, Madrid.
• Summer Programs at St. John's School Two-week summer camp at St John's School in the UK combining English lessons with cultural and recreational experiences.
• Boca Prep International School International high school program in Boca Raton, USA, for students aged 14-18 seeking international education experience.
• St. John's School UK International Program Life-changing international school experience in the United Kingdom, offering comprehensive educational programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% IB pass rate achieved by SEK Chile Fourth Year E class in July 2025, ranking #1 among Chilean schools
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bachillerato Internacional (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026International Baccalaureate Organization partnership for implementation of IB programmes. SEK Guatemala achieved accreditation as the first IB Primary Years Programme school in Guatemala in March 2026. The network maintains widespread IB implementation across multiple schools.
• Willoughby International SchoolcoreOthers · 1 January 2026Willoughby International School, founded in 1972, was acquired in 2026 and incorporated into the IES network. Located in Madrid's Chamartín district, it adds over 50 years of educational experience and a complete educational cycle from preschool to secondary education to the institution.
• IES Regal CairocoreOthers · 1 September 2025IES Regal Cairo International School opened in September 2025 as a franchise operation in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first SEK/IES school in the Middle East, representing geographic expansion into a new region. The school follows the Whole Child Approach educational model and Cambridge curriculum.
• Regal Cairo (Local Partner)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 September 2025Partnership with Regal Cairo for establishment of IES Regal Cairo International School. The school participated in the Egypt-Spain Business Forum by invitation of King Felipe VI of Spain, with SEK President Mónica Segovia attending.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Globeducate: International schools group with campuses across Europe, India, and the Americas offering IB and bilingual programs. Comparable to SEK on premium international K–12 multi-country footprint and IB/bilingual curriculum mix.
• GEMS Education: Dubai-based global private K–12 operator with 80+ schools and strong presence in MENA and Asia. Directly comparable to SEK as a premium international school group pursuing aggressive global expansion and curriculum diversity.
• Wellington College International: Premium international schools network originating from Wellington College UK, with campuses across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Comparable to SEK as a premium international K–12 brand expanding globally through licensing and partnerships.
• Cognita: UK-based operator of 75+ private and international schools across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Comparable to SEK as a multi-brand, multi-region private school group pursuing acquisitions to expand footprint and curriculum offerings.
• Nord Anglia Education: Hong Kong-headquartered operator of 80+ premium international schools globally with a strong IB focus and family-owned / private-equity heritage. Directly comparable to SEK on premium international K–12 positioning, global multi-brand model, and IB curriculum emphasis.
• International Schools Partnership (ISP): Global operator of 80+ private and international schools across multiple regions. Comparable to SEK as an international K–12 group focused on premium curriculum delivery and acquisition-driven scaling.
• Maple Bear Global Schools: Canadian bilingual (English-French) K–12 school franchise operating in 30+ countries, with strong Latin American presence. Comparable to SEK on bilingual K–12 education, franchise expansion model, and Latin American market focus.
• ACS International Schools: International schools group operating premium campuses primarily across Europe (UK, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Qatar). Comparable to SEK on international K–12 positioning, multi-country footprint, and IB/bilingual curriculum.
• Dulwich College International: Premium international schools group operating across Asia, Europe, and Africa, focused on British curriculum and IB. Comparable to SEK on premium international K–12 positioning and global multi-campus model.
• Inspired Education Group: Private-equity-backed international schools group operating 100+ premium schools across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Directly comparable to SEK on acquisition-led multi-region growth and premium IB/bilingual positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/instituci-n-internacional-sek
• Instagraminstagram.com/sekinternational

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries29 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 Institución Internacional SEK