Nordic EdTech News #108: 2024-03-18
Launching the Nordic EdTech Summit and your Week 10 - 11 update
Since its launch in September 2019, this newsletter has consistently championed the businesses, people and technologies shaping the future of learning across the Nordic and Baltic countries.
To do that at scale and to support EdTech leaders’ desire for face to face connection with their peers, launching an event has always been on my road map.
So I’m now delighted to be able to provide further details on the Nordic EdTech Summit that I trailed a few weeks ago.
This will be the first event to bring our community together. It aims to spark collaboration, power innovation and help unlock profitable growth.
My aim has been to create a unique event that:
Helps attendees have lots of relevant, high quality conversations.
Features expert speakers from leading Nordic EdTech companies (see below).
Is intimate by design.
Groups people with similar goals and challenges together.
Prioritises networking and peer-to-peer learning.
More speakers and a detailed programme will be announced in the coming weeks. But the Early Bird ticket offer is available now.
It's happening 26th to 28th August in Skellefteå, northern Sweden.
Come. I look forward to seeing you there!
Many thanks, Jonathan
News from Denmark
Dansk Industri and 18 co-signatories (including EdTech Denmark) send an open letter to the government about the Chromebook case. (Link)
Danske Gymnasier publishes a new digitisation strategy for its upper secondary schools. (Link)
Labster co-founder Mads Bonde details how their new growth phase, particularly in the US, requires new capabilities. (Link)
Shape Robotics resolves to carry out a private placement to raise up to DKK 35.4 million in new capital. (Link)
Merete Søby will join Schultz this summer as their new MD. (Link)
uQualio will provide Impulse4Women with a video learning platform to help female founders with onboarding and upskilling of new employees. (Link)
WOOF is now available in Sweden and teachers can now create a free teacher-account here.
News from Estonia
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas: Estonian School Model sparks international interest. (Link)
A pilot for digital exams in Estonian and English will run this year. This is in preparation for next year’s full launch of e-exams in these subjects. (Link)
Six leading EdTechs were identified by the Azerbaijan State News Agency as best in class for Early Years provision. (Link)
News from Finland
Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture is launching a comprehensive review of compulsory education to assess “ what kind of capabilities education should offer in the changing society of the future.” (Link)
New BBC series looks at how Finnish schooling differs from the UK. (Link)
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki is launching a course taught entirely on TikTok. (Link)
Aino Kuronen, Co-founder & Head of User Insight at Kide Science, on her journey from teacher to entrepreneur. (Link)
Interesting interview with Chris Petrie, founder of Kwizie.ai, on their mission to “revolutionise how we learn.” (Link)
Pandatron won in the AI and Data category at the 2024 Product Awards. (Link)
How TEKLA brings the latest learning innovations to students and teachers. (Link)
News from Iceland
Bara tala, Hæfnisetur turtastønsinn and Center Hotels are collaborating on an effort to promote the increased use of Icelandic in tourism. (Link)
News from Latvia
ICYMI - Elchin Jafarov , the founder of Datorium, spoke at Bett exploring the topic: “Are grades still relevant?” (Link)
200 women have now begun the WoTech coding skills programme that’s organised by Smartwork Academy, Riga TechGirls and Accenture Baltics. (Link)
News from Lithuania
Between March and May, 10 free seminars will be held for Lithuanian teachers who want to check out the latest educational technologies. (Link)
News from Norway
“How do we open the door to the digital world for students?”
“Students are treated like lab rats” when researching the use of learning technologies, according to one professor. (Link)
Cappelen Damm's operating income closed at MNOK 1,185 in 2023 vs. MNOK 1,273 in 2022. Operating profit also fell from MNOK 92 to MNOK 22. Almost every third kroner of Cappelen Damm’s income is now digital. (Link)
Research by WiKIT found that use of Kahoot! delivers “significant learning gains,” including measurably improving students’ academic performance. (Link)
Full programme published for NKUL in Trondheim (29 to 31 May).
Two perspectives on the use of AI and digital resources in Oslo schools. (Link, Link)
We Are Learning struck a partnership deal with Sweden’s Learnifier. (Link)
News from Sweden
"We don't know what future Kristianstad's students will face, but we do know that it is digital."
Astrid is “on a mission to elevate confidence and communications skills.” (Link)
Dugga adds the Landstede Groep, a leading Dutch school group, to its customer base. (Link)
Hälsingland's education association has chosen EdAider to train its 300 teachers in AI. (Link)
Kattalo has signed an agreement with Hylte municipality. (Link)
Läromedelsförfattarna releases a new report on the purchase of teaching resources. It shows a per pupil increase from SEK 824 to SEK 1,294 across municipalities, thanks to the state grant, but highlights continued inequality. (Link)
LingoLooper is now live to help language learners by “interacting with smart AI avatars in real-world conversations.” (Link)
How Logitech and Atea aim to create “future proof” future classrooms. (Link)
Skolon confirms its 2023 annual report (Link) as ABG Sundal Collier publishes an analysis of the business for investors and shareholders (Link).
Swedish Edtest has launched smarter tools for evaluating EdTech tools. (Link)
Tilda strikes two new deals with Lexicon Interactive and NHC Group.
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Great work as always, thank you!
Sounds amazing!