NZ’s largest private education provider, ACG, turns 20
30 Jan 2015, Auckland. This week ACG (Academic Colleges Group), celebrates 20 years in the educational services industry. Opening its doors
with ACG Senior College and ACG New Zealand International College, the Group has grown significantly both domestically
and internationally, chalking up numerous success stories each year. It is now New Zealand’s largest private education
provider of school education, university foundation studies and tertiary training programmes.
“ACG’s vision was to create independent, secular schooling with rigorous academic standards and student-focused
learning. We wanted to develop places of learning where highly skilled and passionate specialist teachers identify,
understand, promote and add value to each individual student’s abilities,” says, Owen Daji, ACG Group CEO.
Behind the vision was co-founder and highly regarded education specialist, Sir John Graham who has been honoured
nationally several times for his services to education, sport and charities.
“Student achievement is a key to ACG’s success. We have just learnt that our students have achieved a 100% pass rate in
the 2014 A-Level examinations across the ACG schools. This is a tremendous result and reflects our quality of teaching
and learning,” says Owen Daji.
ACG now owns and operates 12 schools, preschools and tertiary colleges in New Zealand, one in Vietnam and one in
Indonesia. On 2nd February, ACG will be opening its first school in Tauranga.
In late 2013, a strategic decision was made to diversify into aligned areas of education, including early childhood
education centres and tertiary training colleges.
In 2014, ACG acquired Yoobee School of Design, New Zealand Career College, NZMA (New Zealand Management Academies), with
a total of 11 campuses in four cities.
John Maasland, ACG Board Chairman, said the strategy was to develop a comprehensive tertiary, training and careers
division offering a wide range of qualifications and pathways to the workforce. In December 2014, ACG acquired the Zig
Zag Zoo Early Learning Centres in Queenstown.
Owen Daji says: “We know that young children benefit from attending early childhood education. Our goal is to reach a
much wider area of the community and making a positive difference by transforming existing early childcare centres.
ACG has developed a highly successful education model in the last 20 years. We look forward to extending our educational
offering to lifelong learning throughout New Zealand and elsewhere”.
ENDS