Nordic EdTech News #28 : 2020-10-12
Your Week 40 and 41 update from the Nordic & Baltic EdTech ecosystems
Hello and welcome to today’s newsletter!
For Nordic and Baltic EdTech businesses to be truly world-beating, it’s essential that we measure ourselves against and learn from the world best. Last week’s launch of GSV’s Global EdTech 50 (“the leading, venture-backed, private companies in the digital learning sector”) and associated market commentary therefore makes essential reading (Link). Of course, it’s brilliant to see Helsinki-based Yousician included on the list - congratulations!
Whilst on the subject of international recognition, congratulations also to Reactored, who were selected as one of 12 finalists for the Edventures GBA Fellowship (Link).
In a notable fortnight for Norwegian EdTech, itslearning are partnering with Altitude Learning to manage its US business and they’ve also won several sizeable new contracts in Germany (Link). Inspera have been selected by AcadeMedia as their main digital examination system (Link). And there’s plenty to savour in Kahoot’s latest quarterly update - record growth and new product developments for starters. (Link)
Lots to read (and think about) in Unconventional Ventures’ report on Nordic Startup funding (Link). Brilliant to see CanopyLAB involved as a partner and so many female Nordic EdTech Founders featured including 3DL, imagiLabs and Kide Science.
And finally, don’t miss any of the following!
Swedish Edtest and the Swedish Edtech Industry are hosting an essential, international, virtual round table on measuring quality in EdTech this Thursday. Great panel of speakers and full details here
Sign up now to join the World Learning Summit Digital event on 21-22 October.
The deadline for Nordic and EdTech startups to enter the GESAwards has been extended until 16 October. Apply here.
XcitED 2020 will take place online on 3rd and 4th November. As in previous years, the event gathers education professionals, EdTech entrepreneurs, impact investors and innovators from all around the world. To register and to find out more, full details here.
Until next time! Best regards, Jonathan
News from Denmark
9,000 school students will participate in ‘Cybermissionen’, a new nationwide cyber security competition. (Den, Eng)
I’ll be watching the progress of Excelerate with interest. They’re aiming to help Danish doctoral students find companies to collaborate with. (Link)
Sal Khan, CEO & founder of Khan Academy, will join Labster’s Science Online (SO) conference on Wednesday 14th October. One not to miss! (Link)
The LEGO Foundation launches a new guide to playful distance learning (online and offline) and a new course to ‘support children affected by Covid-19 disruption.’ (Link)
Shape Robotics receive a grant for 1.1million DKK from InnoBooster People (Innovation Fund Denmark) and sign Japanese distribution agreement with KISSEI COMTEC. (Link)
News from Estonia
Watch out for this Wednesday’s ‘EdTech e-Pitch’ event as 7 of Estonia’s leading EdTechs pitch their ideas. (Link)
Clanbeat launch new solution to support student wellbeing. (Link)
Detailed feedback on Estonia’s PISA success from the OECD. (Link)
Get involved with the ‘Education Upgrade Hack 2020’ event from 6th to 8th November, developed with Startup Estonia with the Government’s Education and Youth Authority. (Link)
Ulla Ilisson, Director General of the Education and Youth Board opens the Edubest event promising to focus learning and teaching more on learners, (Est, Eng)
News from Finland
Fascinating insights into music education in Finland including the role of digital platforms. (Link)
Interesting Nordic comparisons in this review of Finland’s 2018 PISA results. (Fin, Eng)
Funzi courses are now available on the UK Learns platform via a partnership with Pearson. (Link)
Kide Science launch a new book in their ongoing series with Sanoma Pro. (Finnish)
Mightifier launches the world’s first FLIPPED-SEL solution (Link) and expands into Chile with Sankt Henrik School. (Link)
Great coverage for School Day in Kauppapolitiikka (Finnish) as they announce new product developments. (Link)
News from Iceland
I’d love to include more Icelandic EdTech news, so please email hello@10digits.org if you’ve got something to include or sources to follow.
News from Latvia
Edurio host a webinar (this Thursday at 1330 BST) entitled ‘Managing Covid-19 Disruption in Schools – Lessons for School Leaders.’ (Link) They’re also launching four new surveys to support schools in art, sport, music and remote learning. (Latvian)
Positive feedback on Latvian education from OECD research. (Lat, Eng)
Great insight from Julia Gifford explaining how technology has supported Latvian students during Covid-19. (Link)
News from Lithuania
Find out more about BitDegree’s research project with the University of Tartu on elearning vs classroom teaching (Link) and read their September update here.
News from Norway
Good to see that the Oslo Edtech Hackathon will happen on 12 - 13 November as part of the European DigiEduHack. The challenge is focused on accessibility, learning spaces and pedagogies. Sign up here to get involved.
Recent budget announcements didn’t do enough to support education or fund provision of teaching resources, according to some commentators. (Norwegian)
IKT-Norge and Norway’s IT industry make the case for education to build relevant work-ready skills. (Nor, Eng)
itslearning integrates Microsoft’s Immersive Reader into their platform. (Link)
Kahoot! hires Mads Rebsdorf as Chief Revenue Officer (Link), launches Kahoot! EDU, a new scalable site licence for education institutions (Link) and updates its CPD programme for educators. (Link)
Explore how Ludenso are working with the University of Stavanger to research the pedagogical potential of AR (Link) and also with schools in Germany. (Link)
Concern that the University of Oslo is not equipped to deliver digital distance learning. (Norwegian)
News from Sweden
Haldor solutions are now available through the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace. (Swe, Eng)
Skolon announces deal with Bærum municipality in Norway (Swe) and promotes new content partnerships with Alfamax, Filmnavet and Sanoma (Swe).
Increasing concern about whether Sweden’s schools have the resources to buy necessary resources. (Swedish, Swe, Swe)
Some controversy about PISA changing its rules following Sweden’s request for review. (Swe, Eng)
On 23–25 October, UNICEF Sweden and the Swedish Institute (SI) are organising Kids Hack the Crisis. Find out more here.
Thanks for reading and see you again on 26th October!
Many thanks, Jonathan
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