Virtual trade missions

The GCC's EdTech industry has been gaining traction for the last 10 years, and with the fast-track implementation of digital transformation over the last twelve months, opportunities have grown dramatically to include:

• adaptive learning
• AI and VR
• video content
• gamification
• personalised learning solutions.

Countries in the GCC (particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia), are implementing nation-building strategies through education and relevant government agencies are focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship to drive economies and create graduates job-ready for the digital age.

Business concepts and ideas around high-tech and innovation in education that build skills and support the future of jobs receive strong government support and funding through accelerator programs.

The UAE has over 700 English-medium international schools and Saudi Arabia over 270 international schools.

In both countries, the predominant curriculums tought in schools are UK, US, Indian and IB.

The UAE is also a global hub when it comes to transnational higher education and foreign branch campuses. The UAE currently hosts the largest concentration of international branch campuses (IBCs) in the world.

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest economies. It has 29 public and 14 private universities. The increased use of educational technology in Saudi Arabia’s tertiary education system is one of the factors that affected and improved the educational process which in turn contributed to increasing the international ranking of Saudi universities in last decade.

Oman hosts over 100 private schools in the country, including all levels of the K-12. Oman’s higher education system has expanded substantially in the past two decades, from a single institution in 1995 to nearly 30 institutions today.

The Omani Government is focused on collaborative digital learning platforms that can effectively scale-up to teach large cohorts of learners in ministries and other government agencies through social and collaborative learning. An agreement was signed with the Swiss EdTech firm EDACY in September 2020. A 5-week Digital Fluency online learning program is implemented to upskill 10,000 Omani government employees to improve the delivery of public services in alignment with the Oman Vision 2040.

Schools and higher education institutions in the region are looking for solutions to help shift traditional campus-based learning to digital learning and the holistic development of students. There are growing opportunities and competition among foreign institutions, and EdTech firms to assist regional education providers to meet technology-driven skill requirements, build a modern set of competencies for the new industrial age, and increase employability in the digital learning environment.

Focussed on the concept of sharing knowledge and best practice, Victorian EdTech firms participating in the VTM will connect with schools and higher education leaders and educators via Global Victoria's VTM platform.

Companies will engage in thought provoking panel discussions, and network virtually with speakers, local stakeholders, key figures and potential customers from the GCC EdTech ecosystem.

Export-ready Victorian EdTech companies in K12 and Higher Education sub-sectors are encouraged to apply.

Free to participate, this Virtual EdTech Trade Mission (VTM) to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman will provide participants with a bespoke Victorian program consisting of:

• workshops
• speaking engagements
• expert panel sessions
• company pitches.