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Australia, the EdTech opportunity and gateway to the world
EdTech NZ Newsletter | August 2022
The 2021 EdTechNZ Aotearoa EdTech Excellence white paper found that more than 90% of New Zealand EdTech businesses export or have ambition to export. Principal markets being the United States (26%) and Australia (24%), accounting for 50% of all NZ EdTech exports.
As the second largest addressable market for our New Zealand EdTech exporting community, Australia’s proximity to Aotearoa, its size, recent digital education reforms in the wake of COVID 19, and its links to the rest of the world, offer a very real opportunity for our EdTech community.
To explore the Australian opportunity and supported by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and Education New Zealand (ENZ) a number of New Zealand EdTechs participated in EduTECH 2022 in Melbourne from 10-11 August.
With over 11,000 attendees, 250 speakers, 250 exhibitors and 10 sub conferences (including one on EdTech Innovation) EduTECH 2022 is the most comprehensive cross-sector event for education in the southern hemisphere. It brings together ‘educators and solution providers to exchange and explore ideas, techniques, and technology, with the aim of improving teaching, training and learning and raising the education standards in Australia and the world.’
Six of NZTE’s focussed EdTech customers (Orah, iUgo, Hero, Banqer, StepWeb and EdPotential) were hosted in a NZTE Pavilion at EduTECH. ENZ also supported seven EdTech companies who were keen to explore opportunities in Australia to attend the event: Learn English Live, Chasing Time English, Language Fuel, ByteEd, Kai’s Education, Pacific Kids’ Learning and TTRO. Two other New Zealand companies also participated independently: Education Perfect and MyMahi.
In the spirit of collaboration, ENZ hosted an event at the NZTE Pavilion that enabled all 15 companies to connect with a number of Australian education providers as well as with NZTE, to share ideas and insights about Edtech opportunities for New Zealand in Australia.
“I found the conference really valuable – we actually picked up a series of Indigenous schools to connect in with our Indigenous programme for next year so that was great,” says Will Clarke, Co-Founder & Director, Learn English Live.
“EduTech Australia is where it’s happening this week! Lots of information to absorb and great insights on all things EdTech! It’s been awesome meeting and spending time with like-minded people who are working hard to build their businesses and brand outside of New Zealand. With the support of ENZ and the introduction to the NZTE team here, the future looks bright for Pacific Kids Learning,” says Evo Leota-Tupau – Founder Pacific Kids Learning.
Aotearoa’s EdTech community is increasingly being recognised for the valuable contribution it makes to international education around the world. For example, our EdTech companies were included in the Prime Minister’s recent trade mission to Australia, while several EdTech exporters featured in Minister Hipkins’ recent international education engagements in the Americas.
EdTechNZ, with the support of our Government agencies NZTE and ENZ continues to explore opportunities to bring the collective energy and momentum of the EdTech sector together, to support its contribution to international education, learners and educators everywhere.
EdTech Highlights at the Hi-Tech Awards 2022
Earlier in the month, the technology industry came together to celebrate the innovation being created in Aotearoa at the annual Hi-Tech Awards. What was impressive was the incredible number of winners, highly commended, and nominations that are EdTech’s. Congratulations to Jamie Beaton, co-founder and CEO of Crimson Education, who won the Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever; to Kara Technologies for their highly commended recognition under the Visa Best Hi-Tech Solution for Public Good; and to Writers Toolbox, who also came highly commended for the Tataki Auckland Unlimited Most Innovative Hi-Tech Creative Technology Solution.
Having this prestigious recognition amongst our technology peers shows that the edtech sector is one to watch. Keep up all the amazing mahi – it may be you next year!
The EdTechNZ Team
