Computerworld

Ed Tech aims to keep NZ in touch with $86 billion industry

Registrations are due to open next month for eT4e, with the event scheduled for the 19th and 20th of June this year.

Wellington is gearing up to play host to New Zealand and international education technology sector experts at the Ed Tech for Export 2014 (eT4e) conference, which will take place on June 19th and 20th this year.

Registrations are due to open next month for eT4e, which will see providers in education, training and research come together with game and app developers, as well as hardware, software and content developers, among others.

Gerard Quinn, CEO of Grow Wellington said the education technology sector is now worth $86 billion internationally, a figure forecast to grow to $257 billion by 2017.

“Wellington as the high tech capital is the ideal centre for this conference which is key to encouraging the industry collaboration needed to ensure New Zealand enjoys a part of this growth.”

He said that New Zealand is already thought of as a producer of quality and innovative education technology, with Wellington companies such as Totara LMS and Learnko, and Auckland company Vital English, all performing well in global markets.

“However, we have to keep up with development and the speed of technological advancement. Today’s children who enter the labour market in ten years’ time will need technological skills that are unknown in education environments today,” said Quinn.

eT4e 2014 will feature four international speakers from business and academic backgrounds including Lee Wilson, the CEO of Filament Games in Wisconsin, Dr Erkki Sutinen, head of edTech Research Group from the University of Eastern Finland, Jennifer Carolan, the head of NewSchools Seed Fund in California, a non-profit venture philanthropy firm, and Jan Zawadzki from Hapara.

The conference will examine business growth and global opportunities for both local companies and individuals in the sector, and include New Zealand speakers, workshops and showcases.