Who is Edu Alliance

Edu Alliance is an international advisory consulting firm for higher education institutions. Dean Hoke and Dr. Senthil Nathan founded Edu Alliance in 2014. It is co-located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Bloomington, Indiana.

Our team of experts has assisted on over 60 higher education projects worldwide. All our consultants have held senior positions in higher education worldwide.

Consulting Services

Edu Alliance’s North American operations are dedicated to advancing higher education institutions through specialized international expertise. Our focus areas include:

  • International Market Intelligence and Evaluation: We provide comprehensive insights into global market trends, enabling institutions to make data-informed strategic decisions in expanding their international reach.
  • International Alliances and Collaborations: By fostering global partnerships, we assist institutions in building sustainable alliances that enhance academic offerings and research opportunities.
  • International Branch Campus Feasibility Studies: We guide institutions through the complex process of evaluating potential international branch campuses, offering rigorous analyses to assess viability and impact.
  • Program Review of International Relations and Enrollment Strategies: Our evaluations of current programs and enrollment strategies focus on optimizing international engagement and ensuring alignment with global best practices.
  • Market Feasibility Studies for New International Degree Programs: We conduct market analyses to assess demand for potential new degree programs, helping institutions make informed decisions about program development and launch.
  • Conference Events to Enhance the Reputation and Visibility of the Institution and Leadership: We can design or assist in selecting or creating high-impact international media events that elevate institutional reputation and position leadership prominently in the global education sector.
  • Executive International Searches for Senior Administrative and Academic Positions: Our executive search services identify and recruit top-tier candidates for key leadership roles, ensuring institutions are equipped with strong, visionary leaders.

Leadership

Co-founders Dean Hoke and Dr. Senthil Nathan are former university administrators with decades of university experience in the United Arab Emirates and the United States. They have strong regional knowledge and connections throughout the Middle East and the United States. 

Dr. Nathan joined the Higher Colleges of Technology in 1993. It is the largest higher education institution in the UAE with 23,000 UAE National students.

He served in various positions and, from 2006-2103, was Deputy Vice-Chancellor / Vice Provost for Planning & Administration.  Dr. Nathan received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Institute of Technology in India in 2014 from the former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam. He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Livingston University in Uganda.

Dr. Nathan has been involved in numerous advisory and consulting roles in education/training and development engagements for many clients in the United Arab Emirates, Canada, the United States, Africa, and India and speaks on the current issues of higher education in the Middle East. 

Dean Hoke began his professional university career in 1975 and has worked in the US and the UAE in various senior roles, including admissions, fundraising, marketing, communications, and external relations. He also served as a senior executive for Public Broadcasting System stations and a cable network and was the co-founder of The Connected Learning Network, a full-service online learning company.

He participates in numerous consulting projects in international education, branding, business intelligence, and online learning. He is an active speaker and writer in global higher education. Dean has presented and written worldwide on leadership, higher education, and distance learning. In addition to his role with Edu Alliance, he serves as President and CEO of the American Association of University Administrators. 

Clients Include

NYUAD
KIMEP
KDU
AUBH University
UCLA Extension
UOWD Dubai
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Stay Connected with Us

Follow Edu Alliance Group on LinkedIn and BlueSky for updates, insights, and news about our higher education projects and partnerships.

We also encourage you to connect with our co-founders on LinkedIn:

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