At Bayes Business School in London, student Matthew Swann balances a BSc in accounting and finance with a weekly mentorship of a local high‑school A‑level student. The pairing boosts the teenager’s confidence and career focus, illustrating how universities can use near‑peer programmes to extend financial literacy beyond campus.

Bayes is among nearly 50 institutions worldwide linking higher education with secondary schools, offering supplemental economics, life‑skills classes and career inspiration. Wharton reaches 2,600 students through online and credit‑earning options, charging $4,230 for a personal‑finance course, while Florida International University delivers nine free, 90‑minute lessons on budgeting and debt to Miami‑Dade schools.

Other programmes target specific groups: Sydney’s University of New South Wales trains women and Indigenous students; Georgetown’s Reach supports first‑generation and low‑income pupils; Hong Kong’s University of Science and Technology offers a Business YoungStars weekend camp and a two‑day executive course for principals. These initiatives aim to widen access to higher‑education pathways.

The spread of university‑school partnerships signals a shift toward experiential learning that can raise student engagement and fill gaps in financial knowledge. By investing in mentorship, schools and universities create a pipeline that benefits both sectors, potentially boosting enrollment and preparing a more financially savvy workforce.