EF Education First began in the basement of a university dormitory in Lund, Sweden, where 23-year-old Bertil Hult launched a language study and travel organization. Based on his belief that cultural immersion surpassed traditional classroom methods, he transformed this initial venture into a global corporation that now employs over 40,000 individuals across 53 countries.
Early Education and Linguistic Immersion
Born in Stockholm in 1941, Bertil Hult navigated personal challenges with dyslexia during his youth. After completing junior high, he exited the formal education system to work as an errand runner and coffee server for a ship broker in London. This period provided his primary exposure to the English language, solidifying his conviction that immersion remained the most effective pedagogical strategy. He later enrolled at Lund University, although he departed after one academic year to focus on his burgeoning enterprise.
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Hult relocated from Sweden to Germany in 1971 before establishing the EF Education First head office in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1977. He maintained his role as company CEO until 2002 and served as chairman until 2008. Under his guidance, the company evolved into a multi-billion dollar entity, expanding into international exchange, online learning, and student travel. Today, the organization remains family-owned, with his oldest son Philip serving as chairman and his third son Edward operating as CEO for North America.
Philanthropic Initiatives
Beyond his commercial interests, Hult has focused on drug abuse prevention and dyslexia awareness. He helped establish the Geneva-based Mentor Foundation in 1993, where he has served as a trustee and chairman. Since 2003, he has funded the Bertil Hult Prize, which recognizes Swedish schools for their dyslexia education programs. Additionally, he supports the Hult Prize, a one-million-dollar annual competition for global business school students, and the Global Classroom Foundation, which facilitates the rebuilding of elementary schools in conflict-affected regions.
Recognition and Public Life
Hult has received numerous accolades for his business and social contributions. He was named International Swede of the Year in 2006, received the Lucia Trade Award in 2012 for promoting Swedish-American commerce, and was honored as a Laureate by the World Entrepreneurship Forum in 2014. An avid sailor, he competed in the 1998 Whitbread Round the World Race on his boat, EF Language, and his vessel Erica XII once hosted the honeymoon of Swedish Crown Princess Victoria.
Fast facts
- Born: 1941, Stockholm
- Founder: EF Education First
- Net Worth Estimate: US$5 billion (March 2015)
- Education: Lund University
- Current Residence: Lucerne, Switzerland
- Award: International Swede of the Year (2006)
- Spouse: Lisbeth Hult (married 1974)
Questions readers ask
What is the Hult International Business School?
It is an educational institution formerly known as the Arthur D. Little School of Management, now named after Bertil Hult and affiliated with his company.
How many countries does EF Education First operate in?
The company operates more than 500 schools and programs across 53 countries.
Achievements
- Educated at Lund University
