Ana-Maria Stancu, euRobotics Board Member, is a keen promoter of robotics education. She plays an active role in several European-level initiatives to boost digital education more broadly and its significance for the future of work. 

Last year, Ana-Maria was among representatives of 11 European EdTech organisations who took part in Roundtable Discussions on digital education with Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.  

This exchange of ideas led to a collaborative document ‘Working together: ideas for further cooperation between the European Commission and European EdTech towards a high-performing digital education ecosystem’.  

The document was well received and the Commissioner responded by opening a broader consultation based on it. Ana-Maria is gathering comments and suggestions and welcomes feedback from other members of euRobotics. If you have an interest in this field, you can read the full document and send any comments to ana-maria.stancu@eu-robotics.net.  

‘Working together: ideas for further cooperation between the European Commission and European EdTech towards a high-performing digital education ecosystem’  

Document presented by 11 European EdTech representatives to European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel.  

This document summarises the main points raised during a Roundtable Discussion on digital education between the European Commission and 11 European EdTech representatives (E-Civis, Robo Wunderkind, Ucha.se, BOOKR Kids, LEGO Education, Speexx, WeSchool, DreamApply!, Brainly, Open Classrooms and Reaktor Education), which took place on 7 July 2021 and further developed by the participants in follow-up exchanges. 

Preamble  

Europe needs to step-up its efforts to advance innovation in education and training in the digital age. The Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 as a strategic policy document of the Commission has a key role in promoting inclusive, high quality and accessible education and training in the digital age. To improve quality and access to education in Europe, education innovators need to be empowered. In order to achieve this, we need to improve the European education innovation ecosystem.  

I. What is our vision for stronger European EdTech in the digital education ecosystem?  

● User-centred: the COVID-19 outbreak led to reassessing the role of digital education in the 21st century, putting the learner/user in the centre and recognising the need to focus on the comprehensive learner development.  

● Innovative: European EdTech can foster innovation in education and training to support and enhance high-quality digital education, including blended learning approaches across Europe.  

● Values-driven: European EdTech can promote European values, such as inclusion, high quality, accessibility, data security, privacy, and multilingualism and contribute to the green transition through its solutions and corporate social responsibility action. EdTech solutions should be evidence-informed, pedagogy-driven and lead to tangible learning outcomes.  

● Fostering partnerships: Cooperation within the sector and with other stakeholders is a driving force for innovation and the effective integration of EdTech in the education and training process.  

● Empowered to scale: the EU EdTech companies can be more visible and play a role in the European and global market  

II. How can we achieve this vision together?  

● The EU should support the European EdTech sector in securing its place in the European digital education ecosystem and as competition to global leaders in the field. Together with national governments, it can help EdTech reach wider adoption and trust across the EU.  

● The EU should reflect on the specific needs of EdTech start-ups and SMEs, and promote scalability of their solutions. Public-private cooperation needs to be fostered, where public authorities (national, regional, local level) should have the capacity to work better with small companies and help them expand.  

● A common framework for Key Performance Indicators for EdTech in Europe, focusing on learning outcomes and effectiveness can be created to facilitate the connection and exchange of results among European EdTech. The framework can stimulate exchange and collection of practices, displaying the diversity of the sector.  

● EdTech should be supported by adequate funding mechanisms on EU and national level. Good practices regarding funding mechanisms in other sectors can be taken into account in the education sector. When distributing the funding, the Member States should take into account:  

o Recipients of EU funding (Recovery and Resilience Facility i.e.) at national level should be diversified to address the evolving digital education and training ecosystem and include EdTech.  

o Public procurement can play a key role. Tendering rules should allow EdTech solutions, where possible. Micro-tendering opportunities for EdTech should be explored.  

o Innovative European EdTech companies should be taken into account when allocating funding opportunities for education and training, including for upskilling and reskilling, as they hold the potential to modernise the education and training system. Expenditure on EdTech can have its own budget line to encourage education institutions to innovate their digital education processes.  

• More opportunities for cooperation and exchange between EdTech companies should be created at EU level.  

III. What do we need to establish a truly high-performing digital education ecosystem in Europe?  

● Infrastructure, connectivity and digital equipment for teaching and learning should be available and accessible for all.  

● Innovative solutions cannot flourish unless learners, teachers and school leaders have the necessary training. Teachers should have access to upskilling courses and other forms of professional development to help them use and embed digital programmes and tools in teaching. Guidance and funding support should be available.  

● Investments in digital education should ensure a good balance between hardware and software solutions, including digital education content. Make full use of EU funds and expertise for reforms and investment in infrastructure, tools and pedagogy.  

● Original European digital education content and learning platforms that reflect the European common values and diversity should be developed and scaled up.  

● There should be a clear accreditation of alternative learning pathways in Member States, which reflect the needs of flexible and non-formal learning.  

● The Commission should complete the ongoing work on micro-credentials and individual learning accounts.  

● All learners should have the opportunity to develop their 21st century skills in a holistic manner, including their digital skills and competences (i.e. creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and resilience).  

● Upskilling and reskilling should be part of the 21st century’s vision of lifelong learning to ensure the acquisition of necessary skills and competences.  

● Whole child development as well as student engagement should be considered as key factors when developing any solutions or programs.  

Annex  

Can you share good practices from your current work that contribute to the development of the vision for stronger European EdTech in the digital education ecosystem? What about your future plans? (developed after the specific input of the second Roundtable Discussion on 19 November)  

● User-centred: the COVID-19 outbreak led to reassessing the role of digital education in the 21st century, putting the learner/user in the centre and recognising the need to focus on the comprehensive learner development.  

● Innovative: European EdTech can foster innovation in education and training to support and enhance high-quality digital education, including blended learning approaches across Europe.  

● Values-driven: European EdTech can promote European values, such as inclusion, high quality, accessibility, data security, privacy, and multilingualism and contribute to the green transition through its solutions and corporate social responsibility. EdTech solutions should be evidence-informed, pedagogy-driven and lead to tangible learning outcomes.  

● Fostering partnerships: Cooperation within the sector and with other stakeholders is a driving force for innovation and the effective integration of EdTech in the education and training process.  

● Empowered to scale: the EU EdTech companies can be more visible and play a role in the European and global market.