Times Higher Education and ACU Forge Landmark Strategic Partnership to Drive Growth, Data Excellence and Global Impact Across Commonwealth Universities

Times Higher Education and the Association of Commonwealth Universities announce a strategic partnership to empower higher education and support institutional growth across the Commonwealth.

Times Higher Education (THE) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) have announced a strategic partnership to support higher education institutions across the Commonwealth through trusted data, insights, and collaboration.

The partnership brings together THE’s global data and higher education solutions with ACU’s extensive Commonwealth network to support universities in making data-informed strategic decisions that drive institutional growth, strengthening visibility and engaging more effectively within global higher education networks.

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to supporting universities through long-term partnerships built on trust, insight, and practical engagement.

Through this partnership, THE reinforces its role as a trusted, long-term partner to universities across the Commonwealth, drawing on extensive proprietary datasets and global institutional insight. ACU continues to build value for its members by connecting institutions, leadership communities, and policy conversations across regions and contexts. The collaboration will focus on three key areas.

• Data and insight for institutional growth, supporting universities through benchmarking, performance analysis, and data-driven insight to inform planning and development.
• Network, visibility, and partnerships, connecting ACU members to global peer networks, leadership forums, and opportunities to develop strategic regional and international partnerships.
• Sustainability and impact, supporting universities in understanding, measuring, and strengthening their sustainability performance and impact, including alignment with global priorities such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Designed as a long-term collaboration, the partnership will be delivered through a series of joint activities and engagement across 2026 and 2027.

Professor Colin Riordan, ACU Secretary General and Chief Executive, commented: “Collaboration is at the heart of the ACU’s mission, and I am delighted to partner with Times Higher Education for the benefit of our members across the Commonwealth. THE’s global data and higher education solutions align seamlessly with our strategic goals of strengthening Commonwealth universities, supporting sustainable development, and connecting engaged leaders. Together, our combined global convening power will enable deeper engagement with our members, and I look forward to the many fruitful conversations this partnership will inspire.”

Phil Baty, THE Chief Global Affairs and Chief Operating Officer, said: “Times Higher Education’s trusted, global performance data already demonstrates the extraordinary diversity of excellence found in universities across the wonderful diversity of nations that make up the Commonwealth – especially their deep and rich economic and social impact. We are delighted that this partnership will open up a deeper and richer seam of data to boost this uniquely diverse impact further and help universities across the Commonwealth to continue to lead the way on tackling some of the world’s most pressing grand challenges.”