The Value of Connections | 24 April Newsletter

The value of a collaborative and connected voice cannot be underestimated and certainly paid off in spades at the recent EdTechNZ briefing to the Australian National Education Digital Advisory Group (NEDAG). They were treated to a shared story about Aotearoa NZ’s richly diverse education tech landscape, our export footprint in Australia, and the people, products and place that make what we do unique in the world.
 

Working with the New Zealand Ministry of Education (MOE), Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, NZ Tech Alliance, AWS, and a few of our homegrown EdTech’s (ImmerseMe , Banqer and StepsWeb), a dynamic picture of New Zealand’s Edtech ecosystem, both domestically and for export was provided.

The briefing delivered on Tuesday 9 April was part of a two-day Australian National Education Digital Advisory Group (NEDAG) meeting which is hosted by the New Zealand Ministry of Education (MOE). This Trans-Tasman advisory group provides leadership and guidance to education stakeholders on the efficient and effective design, deployment and utilisation of digital technologies and services across the school education ecosystem in both countries.

Members include the CIOs from each Australian and New Zealand government education authority, representatives of the Australian non-government school sectors (National Catholic Education Commission, and Independent Schools Australia), the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, and Education Services Australia (ESA).  

ESA is a national not-for-profit company owned by the state, territory and Australian Government education ministers. It supports NEDAG and runs the vital National Schools Interoperability Programme and the Safer Technologies for Schools (ST4S) initiative that is deployed across both Australia and New Zealand.  

Australia continues to be the largest and most significant export market for NZ Edtech companies. Therefore, our connected and unified voice across the Tasman is vital to helping our edtech exporters grow and thrive.Not only did the session highlight the value of a collaborative and connected NZInc and MOE, but also where New Zealand is leading across a range of EdTech verticals  – specifically in K-12 education and the domain of indigenous wisdom and expertise, as well as in learning experiences and outcomes for diverse learners.

Next steps: Two key work streams have been identified for further progress:  building stronger connections with Australia and supporting our EdTechs to achieve ST4S. Watch this space!