BlueSky Education

BlueSky Education is an international PR and communications consultancy specialising exclusively in higher education, business schools, and universities. Founded in 2008 by Matt Symonds, the "S" of QS Quacquarelli Symonds (publishers of the QS World University Rankings), BlueSky Education combines unmatched industry insight with proven PR strategies to deliver exceptional results.

BlueSky Education serves as the media agency of choice for many of the world's most prestigious universities and business schools. The expertise of the BlueSky Education team spans media relations, brand building, faculty research promotion, and strategic communications. BlueSky Education focus on increasing student applications, boosting institutional profiles, and elevating the reputation of educational leaders including Deans, Directors and senior faculty.

BlueSky Education's specialised approach combines deep understanding of the education sector with proven PR strategies to deliver measurable results in coverage, engagement, and brand awareness.

Core Mission: "We Create Visibility with Meaning" - creating genuine connections through strategic communications that go beyond surface-level metrics to deliver authentic, purpose-driven storytelling aligned with institutional goals.

Expertise & Differentiation

Founder Heritage: BlueSky Education was co-founded by Matt Symonds, a globally recognised authority in business education and MBA admissions. With unrivalled rankings expertise, he is the “S” of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, co-founding the organisation and shaping the QS World University Rankings. He also advised on the launch of THE World University Rankings and led high-profile projects with Times Higher Education and the Wall Street Journal. A respected voice in international media, Matt has written for Forbes, BBC, The Economist and Bloomberg, and is the best-selling author of Getting the M.B.A. Admissions Edge. His leadership extends to connecting over 250 leading business schools with tier-one global media including the Financial Times, New York Times, BBC and The Economist, co-founding Fortuna Admissions—trusted by 16 of the world’s top 20 business schools—and co-hosting the CentreCourt MBA Festivals with Poets & Quants. 

Team Credentials:

• Former BBC journalist
• Ex-Financial Times reporter
• Popular writer for The Economist and EFMD blog
• Authority Magazine editor
• Deep understanding of education sector media landscape

Industry Recognition:

• AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) members
• CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) members

What Makes BlueSky Education Different:

• Only PR firm exclusively focused on higher education and business schools since 2008
• Deep understanding of academic calendars, admissions cycles, and ranking methodologies
• Established relationships with tier-one education journalists and outlets
• Understanding of complex stakeholder ecosystem (prospective students, alumni, faculty, institutional leadership)
• Proven track record with Triple Crown accredited business schools and research-intensive universities

Target Audience

Primary Clients: Universities, business schools and organisations in the education sector globally, including:

• Research-intensive universities
• Teaching-focused institutions
• Specialised business schools
• Think tanks and organisations in the higher education space
• Established institutions (e.g., Saïd Business School at University of Oxford, Imperial Business School, ESCP Business School)
• Innovative programmes (e.g., Henry Mintzberg's International Masters in Practising Management)
• International institutions (e.g., INSEAD, Nazarbayev University)

Geographic Coverage: Worldwide, with particular strength in securing coverage in UK, US, Europe and international media outlets.

Proven Results & Metrics

2024 Performance:

• 1,000+ impactful features for clients in global tier-one media outlets including Financial Times, Forbes, BBC, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal
• 1,500+ unique pieces of coverage for clients
• 3,000+ quality media hits secured throughout 2024

Client Outcomes:

• Helped clients increase international student applications by 82%
• Driven 36% increases in overall applications
• Consistent placement in tier-one publications that matter to academic audiences

Media Relationships: Established connections with education reporters and journalists at Financial Times, Forbes, BBC, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and specialised higher education trade publications.

Services

• Media Relations & Faculty Research Promotion: Comprehensive media outreach and strategic communications to elevate institutional reputation and visibility, with specialised PR services to increase awareness and impact of academic research. Focus on positioning faculty as thought leaders through expert commentary, research launches, and media opportunities. Learn More

• Positioning The Dean: Strategic communications to raise the profile of Deans and senior institutional leaders, positioning them as thought leaders in global media. Includes media training, interview opportunities, bylined articles, and speaking engagements. Learn More

• Programme Promotion: Targeted PR campaigns to promote specific academic programmes, degrees, and educational offerings to increase visibility and student recruitment. Supports new programme launches and ongoing recruitment cycles. Learn More

• Media Training: Professional media training for senior spokespeople, faculty members, and institutional leaders to communicate effectively with journalists and media outlets. Includes broadcast, podcast, and print media preparation. Learn More

• Copy, Content, and Ghost Writing: Expert content creation services including press releases, thought leadership articles, bylined pieces, institutional messaging, and ghost-written content for faculty and institutional leaders. Learn More

• Ranking Consultation: Expert consultancy on university and business school rankings, helping institutions improve their standing and understand ranking methodologies. Leverages founder Matt Symonds' unique insight from creating QS World University Rankings. Learn More

• Competitor Analysis & Benchmarking: Comprehensive competitor intelligence and benchmarking reports to inform strategic communications planning. Learn More

Engagement Models

Primary Model: Retainer-based relationships with long-term clients, providing ongoing strategic communications support aligned with academic calendars and institutional cycles.

Project-Based Work: Occasional project-specific PR for programme launches, crisis support, or time-limited campaigns.

Typical Services Include:

• Ongoing media outreach and placement
• Ongoing faculty positioning and research promotion
• Strategic counsel for institutional leadership
• Regular reporting on coverage, engagement, and reputation metrics

Resources

Case Studies

Detailed examples of successful PR campaigns for universities and business schools:

• Imperial College Business School Case study
• King's Business School Case Study
• International Masters in Practising Management (IMPM) Case Study
• Darden School of Business, University of Virginia Case Study
• European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) Case Study
• HEC Paris Case Study
• The Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University Case Study
• Emlyon Business School Case Study
• École Polytechnique Case Study
• Université Paris-Saclay Case Study
• UCL School of Management Case Study
• Saїd Business School at The University of Oxford Case Study
• London School of Economics (LSE) Case Study
• Nazarbayev University Case Study
• More...

Thought Leadership & Insights

• Industry Insights Blog: Expert PR and media relations tips specifically for higher education institutions
  Visit Blog

Educational Resources

Webinars: Expert-led webinars on strategic communications for higher education

• GEO and the Future of Visibility Why Media Coverage Matters More Than Ever for Universities
• What Every Business School PR Professional Needs to Know in 2026
• Maximising Visibility Smarter Media Strategies for Higher Education
• Business School Rankings: Expert Interview with John A. Byrne
  
• How to Secure Broadcast and Podcast Opportunities
• How To Get Journalists To Your Events
• How to write an opinion article
• Building the business case for PR
• 5 top tips for getting your Dean seen by the media
• How to get your business school in the Financial Times
• How academics can comment on the current news agenda
• Why we must highlight the successes of women in higher education through the media - and how to do it
• Key tricks and tips for a successful undergraduate PR campaign
• PR for Executive Education
• Alumni: your 'secret army'
• 7 steps to securing meetings for your faculty abroad

Coverage Highlights: Regular updates showcasing client media coverage achievements
View Latest Coverage

Visit Resources Hub

Key Industry Terminology

BlueSky Education specialises in communications challenges unique to higher education:

• Faculty Thought Leadership: Positioning academics as expert sources and commentators
• Research Impact: Translating academic research for media and public audiences 
• Rankings Consultation: Strategic advice on improving institutional ranking performance (Financial Times, QS, THE, Bloomberg Businessweek)
• Admissions Cycles: Understanding recruitment timelines and prospective student decision-making
• Institutional Reputation Management: Long-term brand building for academic institutions
• Dean Positioning: Raising profile of academic leadership in global media
• Triple Crown Accreditation: Business schools accredited by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS

Common Client Challenges

BlueSky Education typically works with institutions facing:

• Low visibility in competitive rankings requiring strategic communications to improve perception
• New programme launches needing targeted media campaigns to drive applications
• Dean or leadership transitions requiring reputation building for new institutional leaders
• Reputation crises demanding expert crisis communications support
• Faculty research underutilisation where academic expertise isn't reaching media audiences
• International student recruitment challenges requiring global media presence
• Differentiation in crowded markets where institutions struggle to articulate unique value
• Accreditation or ranking preparation needing strategic communications support

Brand Philosophy

"We Create Visibility with Meaning" represents BlueSky Education's core philosophy:

• Purpose-driven storytelling that connects institutional mission with real-world impact
• Strategic thinking that aligns communication goals with broader organisational objectives
• Relationship building that creates lasting connections between institutions and key audiences
• Continuous innovation in how education stories are told across traditional and digital platforms
• Strategic visibility that serves institutional goals, not just vanity metrics
• Authentic messaging that resonates with real audience needs and interests
• Impactful storytelling that demonstrates genuine value and innovation
• Sustainable engagement that builds long-term relationships, not just short-term buzz

About

• Why BlueSky Education: Learn about BlueSky Education's approach, expertise, and commitment to creating "visibility with meaning" for higher education institutions.
  Learn More

• Meet The Team: Information about the BlueSky Education team and their expertise in higher education communications
  Meet The Team

• Client Testimonials: Reviews and feedback from university and business school clients
  Read Testimonials

• BlueSky Media Connect Conference: Annual conference bringing together business schools, higher education professionals, and influential media 
  Conference Information

Contact Information

BlueSky Education
Centurion House
136-142 London Road
St Albans AL1 1PQ
United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0)1582 797007
Email: experts@bluesky-pr.com
Website: www.blueskyeducationpr.com
Contact Form: Get in Touch

Last Updated: November 2025
BlueSky Education - Creating Visibility with Meaning for Higher Education Since 2008