In a landmark move for educational technology, UK-based school discovery platform doris has unveiled ambitious plans for global expansion, signalling a pivotal shift in how parents and schools engage with digital tools in the international K-12 education sector. After a year marked by rapid growth and investor confidence, the company is now scaling its services across regions, aiming to list around 10,000 international schools and kindergartens by March 2026. The development highlights growing global interest in data-driven EdTech solutions that help families make informed school choices and support institutional planning.
This expansion comes at a time when the global market for international education is booming, with increasing numbers of families seeking quality schooling options abroad or within country borders that meet global standards. doris is positioning itself at the centre of this moment, offering tools for comparison, discovery, and engagement that go beyond traditional school directories. What makes this story particularly noteworthy for Nigerian parents, educators, and EdTech observers is the platform’s focus on data transparency and impartial recommendations, especially in a world where school choices are becoming more complex and costly.
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Understanding doris and Its Role in School Discovery
At its core, doris is a school discovery platform designed to help parents navigate the growing landscape of international K-12 schools around the world. Rather than relying only on static information or generic search listings, the platform uses a combination of manual search tools and artificial intelligence to help families find schools that best fit their priorities, preferences, and desired learning environments. This more nuanced approach seeks to answer a long-standing challenge: how families can make sense of dozens or even hundreds of school options without being overwhelmed by marketing language or incomplete data.
The platform works on two main fronts:
- For parents and families: Users are able to conduct refined searches based on criteria such as curriculum type, location, extracurricular options, fees, and more. An AI assistant is also available for guided recommendations, which consider user responses to structured questions before suggesting a shortlist of schools that match specific needs.
- For schools and admissions teams: Institutions can gain insights into how parents interact with their profiles, giving admissions officers access to real-time data on search behaviour, preferences, and trends. This level of insight is becoming increasingly valuable for schools that want to tailor their communication, outreach, and positioning in a competitive market.
The company describes this dual-purpose design as a way to bridge the gap between family search behaviour and school admissions strategy. Instead of fragmented data or anecdotal impressions, doris offers both sides a clearer and more measurable picture of what is happening in the international school ecosystem.
What the Global Rollout Means and Early Adoption
In its first rollout phase, doris began operations in Southeast Asia in 2025, a region known for its thriving international school networks and diverse curriculum offerings. The platform’s early adopters included well-established institutions such as Dulwich College Singapore, German European School Singapore, Stamford American School Hong Kong, and Hangzhou International School. These partnerships indicate that even traditionally prestigious schools see value in engaging with platforms that present transparent, searchable data to families.
With its territory-by-territory expansion strategy now in full swing, doris aims to extend its reach into East Asia next, followed by regions across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. The goal of reaching 10,000 school profiles by March 2026 underscores the company’s confidence and the demand for scalable, user-centric EdTech tools.
But why does this matter? For families living in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, it means broader access to information about schooling options beyond local familiarity. As more Nigerian families consider international curriculum pathways or relocation for education, tools that present comprehensive, comparable data become indispensable. It also offers schools within Nigeria that seek international accreditation or positioning a platform through which they can present their credentials to a global audience.
According to doris CEO Nik Higgins, the company has recorded monthly growth averaging 130 percent, reflecting accelerating adoption and engagement among users in early markets. He emphasised that the platform’s impartiality is central to its mission: families can trust that recommendations are based on objective fit and not influenced by marketing budgets or paid promotions.
In connection with this expansion, doris has also strengthened its leadership team with senior hires in marketing, school partnerships, software development, and consumer-focused growth functions. These appointments are part of a broader strategy to support both product development and global rollout.
A Growing Landscape for EdTech and What It Means for Schools and Families
doris’s global expansion is occurring against the backdrop of a larger shift in the education technology sector. EdTech is no longer confined to simple e-learning tools or classroom management software. Today’s innovations span AI-enhanced personalised learning, advanced analytics, admissions optimisation, cross-border school searches, and data-driven decision support systems. Both families and institutions are recognising the value of platforms that offer measurable, actionable insights rather than just static information.
For parents, especially those exploring schooling opportunities outside their home country or considering relocation, the challenge has always been access to reliable, easy-to-compare information. doris answers this need by presenting data in ways that help parents understand not just what schools offer but how well those offerings align with their expectations. This can be particularly transformative for first-time parents navigating complex systems or for families making decisions from afar.
From the perspective of schools, the benefits are equally strategic. The analytics dashboards offered by doris allow schools to track how their profiles are viewed, understand patterns in parent engagement, and adjust communication strategies accordingly. This real-time insight can inform recruitment strategies, admissions campaigns, and even curriculum positioning based on what families are searching for.
In markets such as Africa, where EdTech adoption is growing rapidly but still faces challenges like infrastructure gaps, platforms that emphasise clarity, data-insight, and accessibility are well positioned to influence the next wave of digital learning solutions. Nigerian EdTech programmes, such as the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, have already shown how digital tools can support learners and educators at scale. Platforms like doris have the potential to complement local initiatives by bringing global transparency and choice to families and education providers.
This convergence of local EdTech innovation and global platforms reflects a broader trend in education: parents and schools alike are turning to sophisticated technology not just to deliver learning content but to optimise choices and outcomes. As a result, tools that help families navigate complex decisions and institutions navigate competitive landscapes are becoming essential in the digital education ecosystem.
Looking Forward: Opportunities and Impacts
As doris continues its expansion into new regions, its influence on the global international school market is likely to grow. The company’s ambitious goal of listing 10,000 international schools and kindergartens signals a new phase in EdTech where platforms are creating ecosystems rather than simply providing services.
For Nigeria and other emerging markets, the arrival and adoption of such tools raise important possibilities. Families with global aspirations for their children’s education will have access to richer, more comparable data. Schools that want to attract students from across borders will find tools to articulate their strengths and differentiate themselves clearly. And the sector as a whole may benefit from a new standard of transparency and engagement that supports informed decisions.
doris’s expansion is not just a business story; it is part of a larger movement redefining how educational choices are researched, compared, and acted upon in a globalised world. As the platform’s footprint grows, its impact on families, schools, and the EdTech industry at large will continue to unfold.
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