As the international education sector awaits the release of both the Australian government’s response to the Migration Review and the interim report of the Universities Accord Panel – both are likely to encourage providers to continue to diversify their onshore student profile and to diversify their international education engagement by focussing on more offshore and online delivery.
Against this backdrop it was interesting to attend last week’s EdTechXEurope conference where a number of speakers focussed on the role of EdTech in international education, as well as the changes happening in EdTech.
Perceptions of the value of EdTech have fallen recently with (a) the advent of generative AI like Chat GPT which can assist with lesson planning, readily create course content, and provide information and tutoring support to students, and (b) the widespread use of “passive forms” of technology during COVID which did not engage learners.
However, the challenges of educating the youth populations in Africa, India and parts of South East Asia mean traditional TNE will not be enough and EdTech must play a role.
Australian providers looking at TNE opportunities therefore need to be engaged with and thinking about EdTech as part of their offer.
Amongst the notable conference presentations and innovative models for Australian providers to be aware of are:
- Germany’s largest university IU International University of Applied Sciences is also one of Europe’s leading EdTech players. They not only won the conference’s “EdTechX Leviathan Award” – they also recently made a submission to the Australian Universities Accord Panel
- UNICEF’s Learning Innovation Hub focusses on improving K-12 education globally using tested EdTech solutions
- Australia’s IntelliSchool – an AI data analytics platform combining a range of products for schools
- Virtual Internships operates in more than 80 countries, including with a small number of Australian universities
- as Australian universities look to opportunities in India they should be cognisant of Medvarsity – India’s largest healthcare EdTech organisation offering 200+ Fellowship, Post-Graduate Programs and Certificate level courses
- Minerva University was created more than a decade ago as a global university, and now has partnerships with other leading universities including Spain’s Esade School of Business, and
- South Africa’s Instill Education is working with African and international universities to address Africa’s school teacher shortage of 15 million qualified teachers by 2030.
The TNE opportunities for Australian providers are enormous. The right technology and partners put them more in reach than ever before.
Claire Field is a consultant and advisor to the tertiary education sector. To find out more visit her website.
