Asia Exchange Celebrates 17 Years of Helping Find Your Way Abroad

Celebrating 17 Years of Life-Changing Experiences

Seventeen years ago, two former exchange students, Tuomas Kauppinen and Harri Suominen, embarked on a mission that would later transform the lives of countless students from around the world. With a passion fueled by their own life-changing experiences studying abroad in Asia, they founded Asia Exchange in 2007 in Finland. Their goal was simple yet profound: to make study abroad opportunities in Asia more accessible, affordable, and convenient. Today, as we celebrate Asia Exchange’s 17th anniversary, we reflect on our journey, achievements, and the values that have guided us through the years.

A Journey of Growth and Achievement

What began as a vision to bridge the gap in study abroad opportunities in Asia has led to Asia Exchange being the number one international study provider. From our humble beginnings, we now offer students the chance to study in Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam. In 2020, the pandemic invoked an innovative step; expanding beyond Asian Borders, we introduced Beyond Abroad, extending our operations to a global scale, offering study programs also in Europe and Latin America, and most recently, Australia. Our newly introduced Bali Beyond Borders program exemplifies our commitment to innovative and immersive educational experiences, offering a 10-day deep dive into the culture and learning environment of Bali.

One of our most significant milestones this past year was joining the Keystone Education Group family, a move that not only validates our growth but also positions us for even greater impact in the global education landscape. Additionally, we welcomed Joonas Salo as our new Managing Director, a leader who shares our founders’ passion and is poised to guide Asia Exchange into an exciting future ahead. In May, we we’re honored to receive the GoAbroad Innovative Study Abroad Program award for our Warmadewa Academy. This award highlights the dedication of our team to provide unique opportunities to our students for learning and cultural engagement.

Our Core Values: The Heartbeat of Asia Exchange

Our success is built on a foundation of values that resonate throughout our organization and in every experience we create for our students. These values—Caring, Curiosity, Sustain Ability, Sisu, Meaningfulness, and Being Different—are the principles that have shaped our journey and will continue to drive us forward.

• Caring: At Asia Exchange, caring is in our DNA. We care deeply about our students, colleagues, partners, and the environment. Our mission is to create life-changing experiences that broaden worldviews and build a better tomorrow.
• Curiosity: Curiosity sparked our foundation, and it remains a driving force behind our growth. We encourage our students and team to explore the world with open minds, to learn through experience, and to embrace the unknown with courage and ambition.
• Sustain Ability: We are committed to providing accessible study abroad opportunities while maintaining a sustainable business model. Our goal is to ensure that our students not only benefit from their experiences abroad but also contribute positively to the communities they engage with.
• Sisu: Sisu, a uniquely Finnish concept, embodies the strength, determination, and perseverance that we aim to instill in our students. It’s about pushing beyond comfort zones and sustaining courage in the face of challenges—a mindset that defines our approach to education.
• Meaningfulness: We believe in living life to the fullest and finding meaning in everything we do. Our work is not just a job; it’s a passion. We strive to create an environment where our team, students, and partners can thrive and find joy and purpose in their work and studies.
• Being Different: Innovation is at our core. We believe in standing out by doing things differently. By embracing uniqueness, we capture attention, inspire action, and lead the way in the student mobility field.

A Global Family

None of our achievements would have been possible without the dedication and passion of our international teams stationed around the world. From Europe to Asia and beyond, our global team works to ensure that each student’s experience is as seamless and enriching as possible. A special shout-out goes to our international students—thousands of bright minds from all over the world who have chosen to embark on this journey with us. Your enthusiasm and curiosity inspire us every day.

Looking to the Future

As we celebrate this milestone, we remain steadfast in our commitment to engaging with the international education community, providing students with unparalleled service, and promoting the values that have been our compass for 17 years. The road ahead is bright, and we are excited to continue leading the way in providing life-changing educational experiences.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Here’s to 17 years of making dreams come true—and to many more years of helping students explore, learn, and grow through the power of study abroad.

Happy 17th Birthday, Asia Exchange!