Higher education private sector institutions have a lot to offer in terms of their capacity to provide innovative educational services, and their ability to influence the diversity of skills to which students are exposed. The need to provide innovative services is key, especially within the context of new skills demands in a rapidly changing and globalised labour market. The reasons why the private sector could be expected to provide more innovative services include: a) lesser constraints in access to finance, b) the need to meet demands because of market competitive pressures, and c) a lesser subjection to central regulation and public administration rules.

This report summarises these and other key points highlighted at the international seminar on innovation in the private higher education sector, organised by the OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI), and Laureate International Universities Europe in November, 2013. The specific objectives of the seminar were to (1) discuss the growth of the private higher education sector, and its distinct role in educational innovation and in developing the skills of traditional and adult students, (2) map innovation in the private higher education sector in both organisational and pedagogical areas, and (3) provide a forum for higher education institutions to share experiences on their explicit or implicit educational innovation strategies. This report also provides lessons for the public sector and the higher education sector at large.