What do you like about your role?

Being able to shape and reinvent what learning looks like in a large scale enterprise.

 Share three predictions on the future of Edtech.

• Today, only half of the world’s population has access to the internet. As internet access is spreading, more people have the chance to educate themselves through broadly available online resources. This development will have a huge impact on global economy.

• Technology will transform how education is organized in more comprehensive ways than just creating digital content.

• In the near future EdTech will be not only about educating people but machines and algorithms, too.

What technologies do you believe have the potential to transform the education industry?

The internet, especially mobile internet, as it enables people to connect and share thoughts globally, and to learn from one another in a way that was previously not available.

As we are celebrating out 5th anniversary of EdTechXEurope, we are looking at the key trends over the past 5 years in edtech. What would you say have been the key areas of change that are impacting edtech today? Anything unexpected that surprised you? Trends that were overhyped and never met their expected potential?

1. Digitization
   For me, digitization is the most important “trend” in education. It changes the way people are educated and enables us to apply educational science findings.
2. Self-directed learning
   The digitization also enables self-directed, self-organized learning and changes the focus from the teacher to the student.
3. Collaboration and user-generated content
   A big change in the way people are educated and education is organized is the possibility to connect with other learners, sharing thoughts and experiences. Even though user-generated content is sometimes criticized, I believe that collaboration enables new ways of learning from one another. This applies all the more to companies, since sharing knowledge and content amongst colleagues is not as anonymous as private sharing in the internet.
4. Personalization
   The personalization of the learner’s experience is a big trend in the Edtech sector. Personally I do not see as much progress as predicted by many education experts.
5. Democratization of education
   Democratization of education is a very important trend which should be enabled through educational technologies. As Edtech companies increasingly aim for working business models, this trend of free and open educational resources seems to decline.

Why is it important for all players in the edtech ecosystem to continuously connect, network and learn from each other?

Because innovation happens faster than ever before.

When you think about joining EdTechXEurope this year, what are you looking forward to? What makes you excited about our event in London?

Exchanging ideas with people at the forefront of the EdTech movement.

Join Mathias and our 100+ thought leader speakers at EdTechXEurope 2017 on 20 - 21st June 2017 - reserve your place now >> 

Explore the agenda and see all of our confirmed 2017 EdTechXEurope speakers - go to agenda >>