ASU University Design Institute

What ASU University Design Institute does

The University Design Institute (UDI) at Arizona State University is a non-commercial consulting and capacity-building institute founded in 2019 to catalyze transformation in higher education globally. It serves 130+ partner institutions across 26 countries, including U.S. state university systems (Colorado State, Connecticut State, Minnesota State, Pennsylvania State System), international universities (American University Kyiv, Mapúa University, Makerere University), and government education agencies (CHED Philippines). UDI structures its work around a proprietary "Six Design Imperatives" framework (Modernized University Mission, Agile and Inclusive Leaders and Culture, Diversified Partnerships and Financial Models, Transformative Learner Experience, Collaborative and Civic-Minded Research and Discovery, Robust Digital Solutions) grounded in ASU's Principled Innovation methodology.

UDI's core service lines are organized as Reimagine (visioning and strategic roadmaps), Redesign (structured prioritization and validation), and Rebuild (implementation and capacity building), supported by structured programs including the multi-month Design Accelerator, Transformation Accelerator, ASU Leadership Academy, Advanced Leadership Initiative, and Launching Leaders Program. The Co-Lab@UDI serves as a knowledge platform with the monthly Co-Lab Brief publication, Dialogues for Design webinar series, Frank Rhodes Lecture Series, and a library of video interviews with global higher education leaders.

UDI is funded through ASU institutional allocations, grants (USAID UPSKILL, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, ECMC Foundation), and partnership agreements rather than commercial fees. It does not operate a commercial pricing model. Distribution is direct enterprise engagement with university presidents, chancellors, and government education agencies, augmented by a Global Fellows network of affiliated experts serving as regional ambassadors. Leadership includes ASU President Michael Crow as Chair and Minu Ipe as Vice Chair and Managing Director, supported by senior directors for U.S. Practice, Global Partnerships, Digital Innovation, and Enterprise Design, and a bench of Senior and Global Fellows including former university presidents and NASA JPL leadership.

Name

ASU University Design Institute

Legal name

University Design Institute at Arizona State University

Website

https://udi.asu.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The University Design Institute at Arizona State University is a non-commercial consulting and capacity-building institute that partners with 130+ higher education institutions across 26 countries to design and implement institutional transformation programs using a proprietary six-imperative framework and accelerator methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Consulting Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management (BPADAOAC)

Keywords

• Higher education transformation
• University consulting services
• Institutional design strategy
• Leadership development programs
• Design accelerator programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Partnerships and Grants: UDI operates as part of Arizona State University and funds its operations through institutional budget allocations, government grants (USAID UPSKILL program), foundation funding (Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program), and corporate partnerships. The institute does not charge commercial fees but operates on grant-funded and institutionally-supported engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The University Design Institute (UDI) at Arizona State University helps higher education institutions and systems strengthen their capacity for innovation and transformation. It delivers three core service lines—Reimagine, Redesign, and Rebuild—along with structured programs including the multi-month Design Accelerator, Transformation Accelerator, and Leadership Academy programs. UDI partners with universities, state systems, and government education agencies across 26 countries using a six design imperatives framework grounded in the Principled Innovation methodology.

Product overview

ASU University Design Institute (UDI) offers a portfolio of consulting and professional development services focused on transforming higher education globally. The core offerings include three transformation service lines (Reimagine, Redesign, and Rebuild) that help institutions strengthen their capacity for innovation. UDI also delivers structured programs including the Design Accelerator, Transformation Accelerator, and three leadership development programs (ASU Leadership Academy, Advanced Leadership Initiative, and Launching Leaders Program). The Co-Lab serves as a design hub platform offering dialogues, programming, and publications including the Co-Lab Brief. Additional offerings include the Frank Rhodes Lecture Series, Student Design Corps initiative, and Enterprise Design Practice for ASU. The organization partners with over 130 institutions across 26 countries to advance higher education transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Co-Lab@UDI: A design hub for higher education transformation - a place where bold ideas, institutional expertise, and global perspectives converge to design the future of higher education.
• Design Accelerator
• ASU Leadership Academy
• Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI)
• Frank Rhodes Lecture Series

Products and services

• Reimagine New Solutions A consulting service helping higher education institutions and systems redefine their purpose and impact in their communities, identify strategic priorities, and create visionary roadmaps for success through reimagining academic models, student experiences, and institutional impact.
• Redesign for Transformative Change A structured redesign service that supports higher education institutions to move forward inclusively, helping partners identify and validate key priorities while taking into account strengths, resources, and key stakeholders to accelerate change.
• Rebuild for Increased Capacity A service that transforms ideas into lasting, impactful change through tailored programs and expert guidance, supporting partners to implement their vision and sustain progress through strategic actions.
• Design Accelerator An immersive, multi-month accelerator program that advances new models and impactful outcomes for institutions by supporting design teams to identify ideas, structure and advance them, and iterate towards implementation.
• The Co-Lab@UDI A design hub for higher education transformation that brings together bold ideas, institutional expertise, and global perspectives. The platform includes dialogues for design, programming and events, and a library of resources.
• ASU Leadership Academy A year-long leadership development program that builds capacity in ASU faculty and staff leaders to support the charter and design of the institution, focusing on expanding understanding of ASU, building leadership skills, and creating a university-wide network. Has trained 600+ leaders.
• Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI) An executive leadership initiative dedicated to developing and supporting proven leaders who can sustainably advance ASU as a Public Enterprise, featuring immersive workshops and professional executive coaching. Has run 9 cohorts.
• Launching Leaders Program A senior-level leadership development program preparing ASU's next generation of leaders.
• Enterprise Design Practice at ASU A practice that partners with ASU leaders, faculty, and staff to co-design and implement initiatives of strategic importance, shaping new models, structures, and programs that advance ASU's mission. Has supported 70+ initiatives within ASU.
• UPSKILL Innovation Leaders Fellowship A USAID-funded fellowship program as part of the UPSKILL initiative to develop Philippine higher education leaders through an eight-month learning program including sessions at ASU.
• The Co-Lab Brief A monthly publication from UDI that highlights trends in higher education and shares thought leadership through interviews, reports, and other media.
• Frank Rhodes Lecture Series An annual lecture series honoring Dr. Frank Rhodes, former president of Cornell University, that invites leading thinkers to challenge conventional wisdom and reimagine the future of higher education and society.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130+ institutions transformed through UDI engagement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered key, emerging and core.

• Worcester Polytechnic InstitutekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Former employer of Dr. Laurie Leshin (UDI Senior Fellow); WPI experience informs UDI's approach to project-based learning and institutional transformation.
• Colorado State University SystemkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2025Fourth Design Accelerator partnership focused on developing innovative pathways to strengthen rural communities. Engages system leadership in structured transformation process.
• Connecticut State Colleges and UniversitieskeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Eight-month Design Accelerator initiative to develop stronger transfer pathways for student success and workforce readiness within the Connecticut state system.
• iPeople Inc.keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024Network of seven universities and two primary/secondary schools in the Philippines; Dr. Reynaldo Vea (UDI Global Fellow) serves as CEO. Partnership focuses on transformation and innovation in Philippine higher education.
• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities SystemkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Multi-month Design Accelerator supporting Equity 2030 initiative, working with three universities on transfer pathways, student success, and regional stewardship challenges.
• Makerere UniversityemergingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2023Collaboration on e-learning initiatives and innovative educational strategies; Makerere leadership visited ASU Tempe campus to advance digital learning capabilities.
• Pennsylvania State System of Higher EducationkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Year-long Design Accelerator addressing systems-level challenges including student success initiatives, programmatic design, pathways to completion, and organizational culture across four institutions (Millersville, Slippery Rock, Shippensburg, PennWest).
• Arizona State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUDI is an institute within Arizona State University, operating as the university's design and transformation arm for higher education globally. ASU provides institutional infrastructure, resources, and serves as the living laboratory for UDI's enterprise design practice.
• American University KyivkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenfield project in Kyiv with UDI providing design support through rapid prototyping sessions to establish an American-style, private university with digital-first design, learner-centered curriculum, and deep industry ties.
• Cintana EducationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner managing American University Kyiv; UDI collaborates on design methodology while Cintana handles operational management of the university.
• RTI InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead implementing organization for USAID UPSKILL program in Philippines; UDI serves as implementation partner for higher education transformation components.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EAB: EAB is a higher education research, consulting, and technology firm serving U.S. colleges and universities with enrollment strategy, student success, and advancement services. Comparable to UDI as a dedicated higher-education transformation partner helping institutions modernize operations and strategy.
• RNL (Ruffalo Noel Levitz): RNL provides enrollment, student success, fundraising, and institutional effectiveness services to higher education. Comparable to UDI as a long-standing partner to colleges and universities working on student success and institutional transformation priorities.
• Ithaka S+R: Ithaka S+R is a nonprofit research and advisory organization serving colleges, universities, and libraries on strategic issues including teaching, learning, and scholarly communications. Comparable to UDI as a research-anchored advisor to university leadership on transformation.
• Huron Consulting Group - Higher Education: Huron's Higher Education practice provides strategy, operational improvement, and technology consulting to colleges and universities. It is a directly comparable consulting partner delivering institutional transformation projects to similar customers.
• Entangled Group: Entangled Group is a higher education transformation consultancy specializing in helping universities reimagine their operating models and learner experience. Directly comparable to UDI's Reimagine/Redesign/Rebuild service lines and Design Accelerator engagements.
• RAND Corporation - Education Division: RAND's Education division conducts research and evaluation on K-12 and higher education policy and practice for governments and foundations. Comparable to UDI as a research-driven advisor influencing institutional transformation and education policy at scale.

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company - Education Practice: McKinsey's Education Practice advises universities and education ministries on strategy and transformation as part of its broader management consulting portfolio. Overlaps with UDI's strategic advisory work but is broader in scope and not specialized in higher education.
• Bain & Company - Education Practice: Bain's Education Practice serves higher education and education-focused organizations on strategy, operating model, and organizational effectiveness. Broad management consulting peer with overlapping higher education transformation advisory work.
• Deloitte - Higher Education Practice: Deloitte's Higher Education practice advises universities on strategy, technology, and operations as part of its professional services portfolio. Broad incumbent peer addressing similar transformation topics with larger commercial scale.

Emerging players

• Stanford Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school): Stanford's d.school is a university-based design institute applying design thinking across disciplines. Comparable to UDI as a university-embedded design and innovation institute, though its primary audience is students and cross-sector rather than higher education transformation clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-design-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 ASU University Design Institute