Foundation of Colégio Cruzeiro do Sul was realized by professors Gilberto Padovese (*1937 + 2011) and Hermes Ferreira Figueiredo (*1938 +2021), whose families are part of the controlling block and remain on the company’s Board of Directors, and by another five professors who went out of business over time. Their aim was offering preparatory courses, which are very important to help students enter public middle schools.
Our History
Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional was built from the desire to offer quality education. Our history began in 1965 with Colégio Cruzeiro do Sul and, currently, with more than 50 years of activity, we are one of the largest education groups in Brazil, with 14 institutions of higher education and five of basic education.
We operate nationally through our brands, offering quality academic-professional education from elementary school to undergraduate, graduate, and extension courses in both on-site and distance learning modalities. Our greatest commitment is to prepare students capable of idealizing actions and carrying them out with creativity, leadership, empathy, autonomy, and social responsibility, aware that learning is continuous and needs to be constantly renewed, updated, and expanded.
Corporate Profile
We are a group formed by distinct brands and positioning, respecting the specificities of the region where they are located and always seeking to present the best academic quality indicators among Brazilian private educational institutions. Our services are aimed at those who believe that Education is the driving force of a country and are committed to investing effectively in its future.
Mission
Develop in synergy the teaching, research and extension triad of its institutions, so that they become relevant on the national scene, with recognized brands in their respective markets, forming citizens and professionals who effectively contribute to local and country development.
Vision
To establish itself as the best group of higher education in Brazil, with academically relevant institutions in the national scenario and brands recognized in their respective markets, bringing together the best evaluation indicators in teaching, research and extension.
Values
- Ethics;
- Transparency;
- Innovation;
- Respect for identity and diversity;
- Social Commitments
Cruzeiro do Sul Educational translated into figures
56
years
helping to build and transform our country’s future.
468
thousand of students
from early childhood to higher education, in on-site and distance-learning courses. 8
7
thousand of
employees, faculty and mentors.
80
%
of graduate courses ranked as excellent in the Course Concept (in-loco visit), according to MEC data.
Timeline
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1965
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Déc. 70 e 80
Authorization to offer the first higher education courses: Accounting and Administration. With the creation of Faculdade Cruzeiro do Sul, the construction of Cruzeiro do Sul’s first building began in 1972.
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Déc. 90
In 1993, Cruzeiro do Sul received the highest degree among higher education institutions: the status of University. This decade also marked the implementation of the Institutional Program of Scientific Initiation Scholarships and the first research on Distance Learning, and the creation of the Distance Learning Center, currently Cruzeiro do Sul Virtual.
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2000
Inauguration of the Anália Franco campus of Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul in São Paulo in 2001 and adoption of technological tools applied to education: the virtual learning environment. Beginning of operations of the Liberdade campus (downtown São Paulo) in 2004 and approval of the first two master’s degrees of Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul: Dentistry and Sciences and Mathematics Education.
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2007
The dream of becoming a group of private higher education institutions based on principles and commitments with education started to take shape with the acquisition of Centro Universitário Módulo, the largest and most traditional higher education institution of the Northern coast of São Paulo.
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2008
Acquisition of Centro Universitário do Distrito Federal (UDF), the first higher education institution of Brasília, founded in 1967, and inauguration of another Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul campus in São Paulo, in Pinheiros (which became the campus of UNICID’s Medicine course in 2015).
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2012
Three major events occurred in this period: the acquisition of Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID), recognized for its tradition in the health area, the expansion of Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional operations nationwide with the beginning of Distance Learning Education (EAD) programs and the entrance of Fundo de Investimentos Britânico Actis (British investment fund) in the company shareholders.
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2013
The company expanded operations to the city of Franca (SP), with the absorption of Colégio Alto Padrão and Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN), which has the best official quality indicators among Brazilian private universities and is recognized for its strong performance in research.
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2015
Acquisition of Faculdade Caraguá (FAC), Faculdade São Sebastião (FASS) and Colégio São Sebastião (downtown), expanding the group’s operations in the Northern coast of São Paulo.
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2016
Acquisition of Centro Universitário N. Sra. do Patrocínio (CEUNSP), with campus located in Itu and Salto, both in the interior of the São Paulo State, besides the two Colleges in the same cities.
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2017
Exit of Actis and entrance of Fundo Soberano de Cingapura (GIC) in the ownership structure of Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional.
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2018
Consolidation of Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional as one of the largest educational groups in Brazil after operations expanded to the South and Northeast regions, with the acquisition of Centro Universitário da Serra Gaúcha (GSG) (campuses in Caxias do Sul and Bento Gonçalves/RS), Faculdade Inedi (Gesuca), in Cachoeirinha/RS, and Centro Universitário de João Pessoa (UNIPÊ). Inauguration of the Paulista campus of Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, in São Paulo.
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2020
Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional continued its expansion strategy with the acquisition of Centro Universitário Braz Cubas, in Mogi das Cruzes (SP), and Universidade Positivo, in Curitiba and Londrina (PR). Cruzeiro do Sul Virtual reached the milestone of 1,000 Distance Learning centers, consolidating as one of the main market players. Inauguration of the Santo Amaro campus (south side of the city of São Paulo) of Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul. Cesuca became a University Center, showing the excellence of education offered, with concept 5 (maximum grade) in MEC’s in loco evaluation.
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2021
IPO of Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional, whose shares are now traded on B3 – Brazilian stock exchange, in the Novo Mercado listing segment. Inauguration of the new campuses of Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul: Guarulhos (SP) and Villa-Lobos (west side of the city of São Paulo), totaling seven Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul campuses in the São Paulo area.
Arrival of the new CEO, Fabio Fossen, who takes charge of operations with the challenge of expanding the Company’s growth strategies. This year, the first Annual Sustainability Report was also published.
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2022
Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional announces two new Vice-Presidencies (VP) and four new Executive Boards to drive its strategic and governance objectives: VP of On-Campus Education and VP of Digital Education; Legal and Compliance, Marketing and Sales, Finance and Technology Departments.
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2023
Recognized academic quality: Five of our Institutions achieved concept 5 (maximum score) in the on-site evaluation report of the MEC re-accreditation process: Braz Cubas, FSG, UNICID, UDF and CEUNSP. The Institutions met with excellence the analyzed items: Institutional Planning and Evaluation, Academic Policies, Institutional Development, Management Policies and Infrastructure.
Book: A Origem das Estrelas (The Origin of the Stars –free translation)
The book gathers stories and memories from more than half a century and shares memories and emotions of many of those who helped build what we are today, one of the largest Education groups in the country. Its chapters address themes such as its origin in the 1960s, expansion, and commitment to higher education, as well as an exclusive interview with Professor Hermes Ferreira Figueiredo, one of the founders of Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional. Only available in Portuguese.
Learn more at