Company Background
Wall Street Institute is the premier source for English instruction for individuals and corporate clients around the world. Utilizing both company–owned and franchised centers, Wall Street Institute has provided instruction to over 2 million students with a current enrollment of 160,000 people across its over 400 centers in 26 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The first Wall Street Institute centers opened in Italy in 1972. Those first centers revolutionized English language education by introducing the Wall Street Institute Method. The Wall Street Institute Method is a practical and results-oriented way of learning to communicate effectively in English. It is a modular and highly flexible system, where learners are closely supported and encouraged. The Wall Street Institute method’s adaptive mixture of learning modes and approaches enables everyone to succeed, whatever their preferred learning style or previous experience of learning.
Those first Italian centers were very successful, and within two years 24 new centers opened across Italy. At that time, all language education entities were run like traditional schools. Wall Street Institute approached language education like a business, and created a successful business model that focused on aggressive sales and marketing to drive revenue. By 1979, there were over 48 centers spread throughout Italy.
In 1983, Wall Street Institute expanded outside of Italy, and by the late 1980s Wall Street Institute was well established across Europe. Expansion continued through the early 1990s, when centers were opened Mexico, Chile, and Venezuela. Beginning in the late nineties, Wall Street Institute expanded into the Middle East and then to Asia, which has grown to be a significant part of the business.
Wall Street Institute has established itself as an expert in the industry. In 2007, Wall Street Institute conducted a study with the support of University of Cambridge ESOL. Wall Street Institute successfully proved that its English language courses are aligned to the globally recognized and respected Common European Framework Reference for Languages (CEFR) English Proficiency Scales.
In 1997, Wall Street Institute was purchased by Sylvan Learning Systems. In 2005, Wall Street Institute was acquired by the global private equity firm The Carlyle Group. The Carlyle Group is one of the world's largest private equity firms, with more than $75.6 billion under management. The Carlyle Group combines global vision with local insight, relying on a top–flight team of more than 500 investment professionals operating out of offices in 21 countries to uncover superior opportunities in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
