Looking at how many people have contributed to the EdTech ecosystem development and what all has been done in 2019, I am feeling sincerely very thankful and humbled. Thanks to all of your effort it is step by step becoming better to innovate education in the N8 region.
Great things are done by our EdTech startups but knowledge about the new education tools is slow to spread. Thanks to Nordic EdTech News information is now spreading much better. Thank you Jonathan!
Networking for N8 Members got to new level:
- We had dinner at BETT London (Jan)
- Really lovely EdTech networking lunch @ Latitude59 conference Tallinn, organised by Startup Estonia (Jun), Thank you Inga!
- Excellent networking event @ Startup Week Tallinn, organised by Startup Estonia (Nov), Thank you Inga!
- Great Networking dinner after XcitED conference in Helsinki, organised by Night School (Nov), Thank you Heini, Jouni and Antti!
Many, many mentoring meetings where done with EdTech startup founders. Please share your stories of getting / sharing advice from/with other founders. Would be happy to read.
In addition we had equally many meetings with various people interested in EdTech ecosystem development from NGOs, local authorities, schools, universities, ministries, European Union, UN and OECD.
We have also been developing relationships with corporates: Telia, Microsoft, SalesForce, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Google, Airbus, CISCO, Dell, HP, Apple, Texas Instruments, etc.
N8 is a founding member of European EdTech Alliance, which came together to improve the European EdTech Ecosystem, so Europe would become a better place for innovating education. Read more.
We did more than 15 talks at events across the globe, elaborating why innovating education is important and showcasing many N8 members solutions. More information is available on the website Märt’s friend put together to have a place to collect more interesting stuff he is working on.
On the practical side it is great to see all of the following happening:
In February we held democratic elections to elect N8 board and Country Presidents. I hope you have been happy with the people you nominated and elected. 🙂 If yes, please thank them for their effort. If not, give them feedback on what could be improved.
We submitted a project for funding. Unfortunately it was not funded. We will try again. Thank you Danielius and Peter!
N8 Website was maintained and updated! Thank you Nic!
We introduced Slack as a community channel for communication. Thank you Kadri!
We had a whole day board meeting in Helsinki. Thank you Peter and Juhani!
Ana joined us to help us as an intern! Thank you Ana!
On the side we also contributed to establishing a democratic school in Tallinn. Thank you Monika, Charlie, Mari-Liis & Peter.
PS! New elections will be in February! Would be happy to see many people nominated and participating at the elections so we would have an even greater organisation. 🙂
Summary of 2018, if somebody would like to check. http://bit.ly/N8summary
Future
In 2020 we will continue working on fulfilling the strategy agreed upon in 2018.
We have an excellent vision that helps to remind us what we are working for: “To provide access to great education to everybody, globally by 2028. To have a better and more caring society for everybody.”
2020 for sure will include:
1) Improving networking and collaboration opportunities for N8 members.
2) Continuing work on the general EdTech ecosystem development. Including supporting governments in understanding the value of startups in education and the importance of international cooperation in education development.
3) Secure funding for N8, to hire professional staff that would support the board in developing the organisation.
The precise action plan for 2020 shall be agreed by the new board elected in February 2020.
Your N8 Board,
Peter Fagerström
Kadri Tuisk
Sari Hurme-Mehtälä
Vesa Perälä
Märt Aro
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