Professors Without Borders

What Professors Without Borders does

Professors Without Borders (operating as Prowibo and Professeurs Sans Frontières) is a UK-registered charity (No. 1189091) and Luxembourg ASBL (F14440) founded around 2015 that delivers free, intensive higher-education programmes to students and professionals in emerging markets. Programmes are short (3 days to 2 weeks), taught in classrooms of no more than 25 students, and follow the LSE Summer School teaching model adapted for host institutions in 14+ countries across Africa and Asia, including Sierra Leone, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, India, Nepal, Thailand and Malaysia. Delivery is through partnerships with universities and NGOs, with the Prowibo Online lecture platform providing a virtual complement. The portfolio spans short courses, the Women in Higher Education Fellowship, NGO Fellowship, Financial Literacy Bootcamp (Luxembourg and Nigeria), Leadership Lab, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, AI Futures Initiative and Seed to Success agriculture programme, alongside the Think Tank which publishes the Higher Education Compass journal in partnership with UJ Press.

Name

Professors Without Borders

Legal name

Professors Without Borders / Professeurs Sans Frontières

Website

https://prowibo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Professors Without Borders (Prowibo) is a UK-registered charity delivering free, intensive short courses and fellowships to university students and professionals in emerging markets across Africa and Asia, taught by volunteer academics from institutions such as LSE, SOAS and Cambridge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs (EDAIAGAD), Experiential & Field-Based Study Abroad (Research, Field Schools, Practicums) (EDAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Volunteer teaching programs
• Free higher education
• International education charity
• Academic skills training
• Developing country education

Headquarters

HQ city

City Of London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grants and Corporate Donations: Primary funding comes from grants and corporate donations. The largest donor is Carrier Luxury Holidays. Other corporate donors include Alfa, Ford Credit, Keyloop, TotalEnergies, and White & Case. Trust foundations also provide support.
2. Individual Donations: Individual donations accepted via the website using Stripe and PayPal. Gift Aid scheme available for UK taxpayers to boost donations by 25%. Payroll giving through GoodPAYE and affiliate shopping through Give as you Live are also available.
3. Volunteer Professor Model: All programmes are delivered free of charge to students. Volunteer lecturers teach pro bono. Prowibo covers travel and accommodation expenses for volunteer lecturers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Professors Without Borders (Prowibo) sends volunteer academics and professionals to deliver free, intensive short courses (3 days to 2 weeks) at universities and NGOs in developing countries, modeled on the LSE Summer School approach. The organisation runs a portfolio of programmes including bootcamps (Financial Literacy, Leadership Lab, Entrepreneurship), fellowships (Women in Higher Education, NGO), the AI Futures Initiative, and the Seed to Success programme. It also operates a Think Tank publishing the Higher Education Compass journal and an online lecture platform (Prowibo Online) for virtual teaching.

Product overview

Professors Without Borders (Prowibo) operates a portfolio of educational programmes centered on short course programmes modeled after the LSE Summer School model. These intensive courses (3 days to 2 weeks) are delivered in-person and virtually by volunteer academics and professionals, with subjects developed in partnership with host institutions. The portfolio includes the core Think Tank (publishing the Higher Education Compass journal), the Prowibo Online lecture platform for virtual delivery, and specialized bootcamps (Financial Literacy, Leadership Lab, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, AI Futures Initiative, Seed to Success). Fellowship programmes (Women in Higher Education Fellowship, NGO Fellowship) provide structured support for specific demographics. The programmes operate across 10+ countries including Sierra Leone, Uganda, Thailand, Malaysia, Senegal, Kenya, Nigeria, India, and Nepal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women in Higher Education Fellowship: A 10-month fellowship programme for women in academia providing access to guest speakers, upskilling workshops, networking and mentoring opportunities.
• NGO Fellowship
• Financial Literacy Bootcamp
• Leadership Lab
• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
• Higher Education Compass
• Think Tank
• Prowibo Online

Products and services

• Short Course Programmes In-person and virtual intensive short courses (3 days to 2 weeks) delivered by volunteer academics and professionals at host institutions in emerging countries, modeled on the LSE Summer School approach. Covers various subjects and soft skills including entrepreneurship, communications, financial literacy, AI integration, and personal branding for university students in developing countries.
• Think Tank Academic research arm conducting studies on higher education access, publishing the Higher Education Compass peer-reviewed journal, and producing research disseminated by UNESCO and partner institutions.
• Prowibo Online Platform Online lecture platform hosted at online.prowibo.org enabling virtual education delivery alongside in-person programmes, expanding access to educational content globally for students and host institutions.
• Financial Literacy Bootcamp Intensive programme teaching young people about investing and financial literacy. Operates in Luxembourg and Nigeria with support from Luxembourgish companies.
• Women in Higher Education Fellowship 10-month fellowship supporting women in all levels of academia (research, teaching, administrative roles) with guest speakers, upskilling workshops, networking, and mentoring opportunities. Free and open to all women in academia.
• NGO Fellowship Fellowship programme supporting NGO staff and professionals with skills training, networking, and professional development opportunities.
• Leadership Lab Leadership development bootcamp programme focused on building management, conflict resolution, and professional advancement skills for participants.
• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Intensive programme merging Design Thinking methodology with entrepreneurship and generative AI. Teaches students to rapidly identify unmet user needs and develop innovative solutions using AI agents. Supported by Ford Credit and Keyloop.
• AI Futures Initiative Multi-component AI education programme covering AI Integration for Assessment, Train-the-Trainer AI Student Champions, AI for Education, AI for Entrepreneurship, and AI Integration for Skill-Building. Focuses on curriculum innovation, career development, and responsible AI adoption.
• Seed to Success Programme Agricultural and entrepreneurship training programme covering entrepreneurship, tunnel crop production, sustainable agriculture practices, and AI in agriculture (Agri-Tech). Partner: Women Farmer Foundation, Eswatini.

Quantifiable outcome

• Student capacity per course: up to 25 students per classroom for more personal feedback
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of LagoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership established in 2022 for academic exchanges and pedagogical approaches sharing. First programme included courses in economics, financial literacy, innovative design thinking, and storytelling. TotalEnergies volunteers co-taught in 2025.
• Academic City UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Specialised university in Accra, Ghana with 700+ students. Second year partnership for AI Futures Initiative covering curriculum innovation, skills champions, and entrepreneurship.
• University of Cape CoastmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Second year partnership with Department of Data Science and Economic Policy for AI integration, Bayesian methods, and impact evaluation in economics.
• Avadh Girls' Degree CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019First programme launched in August 2019 at this all-female institution in Lucknow, India, founded by Loreto Convent in 1958.
• KHM Girls P.G. CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018First programme launched in India in 2018 with help from operational partner Alhambra-U.S. Chamber. Returned in December 2021 for a women empowerment programme.
• Institute of Public Administration and ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018First programme launched in July 2018. Returned in 2019 for courses in criminology, decision-making, finance, and political communication.
• African Rural UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017First partnership established in 2017, marking the launch of Prowibo's first all-female programme. Prowibo has returned to ARU three times since, most recently in 2022 for courses in entrepreneurship, leadership, and self-defence for students and faculty.
• Srinakharinwirot UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership established in 2017. Prowibo's first Asian academic conference held at Bangkok campus in 2019. 2022 programme on 21st century skills and SDGs delivered online due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
• Fourah Bay CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Pilot programme launched in 2016 at this historic institution, the first modern higher education institution in sub-Saharan Africa. Prowibo has returned three times since.
• Prince of Wales SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Boys' secondary school in Freetown that hosted one of Prowibo's pilot programmes in 2016.
• Nhloso Likusasa Le'lichakazilemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Non-profit organisation established in 2014 empowering young adults in Eswatini through education, skills training, and mentorship. Sixth year of partnership. Programme on AI Futures Initiative including career development and CV coaching.
• Women Farmer FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Organisation empowering women and youth in agriculture in Eswatini. Second year partnership for Seed to Success programme covering sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, and agri-tech.
• Africa Healing FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational non-profit working in health and community development. Collaboration on several programmes in Zimbabwe and Kenya teaching professional skills and entrepreneurship to youth aged 16-25.
• Back to BasicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen-led non-profit in Kenya empowering local communities. Two programmes conducted in 2022: online resilience and mental wellbeing programme in January, and in-person programme in March covering hate speech, cybersecurity, personal safety, and online self-promotion.
• University of NairobimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneer institution of higher education in Kenya, established by Act Cap 210. Partner for expanding access to education through various programmes.
• Maejo UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThailand's oldest agricultural institution, founded in 1934. Located in Chiang Mai province.
• UCSI UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor higher education institution in Malaysia with campuses in Kuala Lumpur, Springhill, and Kuching. Prowibo conducted Leadership and SDG workshops for students and staff in 2022.
• Institute for Integrated Development StudiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent, non-partisan think tank based in Kathmandu, Nepal. First programme in 2022 was part of their postgraduate employability training programme.
• EcolotripminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest active networks of young climate activists and entrepreneurs in the Francophone world. Facilitates youth participation in climate policies.
• Movement for Youth and Children RightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation created after Sierra Leone's civil war to transform years of war into peace and development through youth rights advocacy, peace education, and entrepreneurial programmes.
• RCE KuchingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Centre of Expertise established in 2018 focusing on sustainable practices awareness. 2022 collaboration on Leadership and SDG workshops.
• University of KigaliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading private higher education institution in Rwanda, fully accredited by the government. Offers undergraduate, master's, and professional programmes.
• Lycée Malick SY de ThièsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Senegal's first secondary schools, created in 1965. Prowibo's first French-language programme launched there in July 2019.
• LeadMIDS AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation challenging the status quo and helping individuals release their potential to solve complex challenges in their communities.
• LSE IdeascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Europe's leading university think tanks. Helps extend Prowibo ThinkTank reach, assists at conferences, connects with associated researchers. Provides free workspace, conference rooms, faculty support, and full access to academic journals.
• Richmond American University LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst UK academic partner. Collaborates on joint research, connects qualified students as interns, and many Richmond professors teach in Prowibo programmes.
• UJ PresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher established in 2020 under University of Johannesburg library. Hosts Prowibo Think Tank's Higher Education Compass journal.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency with mandate covering all aspects of education. Prowibo's two-year study on equitable access to online education published by UNESCO at the 2022 World Conference on Higher Education. Executive Director Rachel Warnick spoke at Sustainable on the Go Conference 2022.
• UNESCO Chair at York UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst UNESCO Chair focused on Education for Sustainable Development. Prowibo participated in 2022 workshop on Science and Sustainable Development and Sustainable on the Go Conference.
• United Nations Institute for Training and ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN training institute supporting developing countries. Partnership provides access to online educational programmes and dissemination of research through Prowibo's academic journal.
• BMW Foundation Herbert QuandtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation promoting responsible leadership and inspiring leaders to contribute to UN SDGs through programmes and Responsible Leaders Network. Prowibo led workshop on Teaching Intersectionality during Equity, Diversity, and Belonging Week 2021.
• Learning Planet AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative by Learning Planet Institute and UNESCO to gather change actors for new ways of learning, teaching, and research. Prowibo led workshop on taboo topics in education in January 2023.
• ADRA EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian branch of Seventh-day Adventist Church with world's largest integrated health and education network. Prowibo's Programme Director led session on influencing European decision-makers to invest in education in emergencies.
• Inspiring More SustainabilitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent, non-political non-profit and Luxembourg's main sustainable development network for 17 years. Supports responsible strategies among economic actors through collaborative projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@professorswithoutborders
• Facebookfacebook.com/professorswithoutborders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/professorswithoutborders
• Instagraminstagram.com/professorswithoutborders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Professors Without Borders