Australian Education Technology Education of the Future Now Contents

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION OF THE FUTURE NOW CONTENTS

TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING EDUCATION...... 3

LET’S CALL IT EDTECH...... 4

AUSTRALIA AND TECHNOLOGY...... 6

THE AUSTRALIAN EDTECH INDUSTRY...... 10

PARTNER WITH AUSTRALIAN EDTECH COMPANIES...... 16

THE AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM...... 20

INVEST IN AUSTRALIA...... 30

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS...... 36

WATCH VIDEO

AUSTRALIA LEADS THE WAY WITH EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR POLICY MAKERS, GOVERNMENTS, INSTITUTIONS, SCHOOLS, EMPLOYERS, LEARNERS AND INVESTORS. Globally, technology is revolutionising the way education is experienced, consumed and purchased.

Growing connectivity and urbanisation across developed and developing countries is boosting participation in formal and non-formal education. Internet access has improved, along with user interfaces and the content and services provided in online environments. Service delivery is also enriching the experiences of learners who are studying in traditional ‘on-campus’ modes. Data analytics and alternative platforms allow learners to adapt content to their own personal learning style. This is where technology and consumer demand meet. TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IS EVOLVING IS CHANGING There is increasing: EDUCATION Emphasis on skills and capabilities and decreasing emphasis on acquiring a body of knowledge. This is connected to a rise in the significance of credentials relative to qualifications Power for individuals to curate their own learning, while the power of institutions as gatekeepers of knowledge is decreasing Focus on rapid acquisition and application of skills to meet employer needs and the pace of economic transformation Global mobility - producing global citizens less defined by national experience Competition and the need to vie for the attention and interest of learners

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 3 Education technology – or edtech – is the provision of technology solutions for education purposes.

Edtech covers a variety of elements across the educational life cycle and can be classified under broad categories:

Student recruitment Data analytics and admissions

Testing and Internship LET’S CALL IT assessment management EDTECH

Teaching and Student financing learning and parental engagement

Infrastructure tools Accreditation such as learning and credentials management management systems

While they sometimes provide a completely integrated solution, Australian edtech companies generally excel at solving one element of the value chain, applied across one or more of the sub-sectors within the education industry. THE BENEFITS OF EDTECH Supports and improves the provision of online learning Enables delivery in markets that were previously inaccessible, such as those in developing countries Allows connections with customer segments that are not easily engaged in classroom learning, such as adult learners with established careers Supports large-scale improvements in labour productivity, particularly for non-classroom based education Enables assessment at scale and with integrity Increases student engagement and retention Enables personalised and adaptive approaches to learning Facilitates lifelong learning Supports efficiencies in administrative functions

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 5 There are several reasons - specific to Australia - that have enabled Australian edtech companies to design world-leading products, platforms and applications.

1. A SOPHISTICATED NATION 2. A CONNECTED NATION Australia is a wealthy country with a Nearly 75 per cent of Australians use high standard and uptake of education mobile phones to access the internet, as well as a culture of lifelong learning making Australia one of the most mobile connected countries in the world1 A national school curriculum and AUSTRALIA AND national training packages allow for By 2020, the average Australian large-scale trials and rollouts of edtech household will have approximately TECHNOLOGY products and services 29 internet-connected devices and will spend A$3.2 billion on connected Online learning and blended delivery is 2 A NATION THAT ENABLES recognised by government, corporate devices and services and education sectors Australian online consumers spend WORLD-CLASS EDTECH an average of 24.2 hours a week3 and World class research and development 4 institutions focus on areas of emerging A$19.9 billion per year on online retail information technology relevant to In 2016, Australia ranked sixth ahead education (such as machine learning, of Singapore, the UK and South Korea augmented reality and virtual reality) as in BSA’s Global Cloud Computing well as government investment in the Scorecard. This compares the cloud- associated infrastructure to support this computing readiness of 24 countries that account for 80 per cent of the Australian consumers are technology- 5 savvy and are willing to adopt early world’s IT markets and buy new technologies 3. A SKILLED NATION 5. A MULTILINGUAL Australia’s secondary education NATION enrolment rate is the world’s Nearly 30 per cent of the population third highest6 was born overseas10 Australia is ranked 2nd in the United There are nearly 300 languages Nations Development Programme’s spoken in Australia11 Human Development Report 2016, which measures a country’s More than 2.1 million Australians speak investment in its people an Asian language at home – about 10 per cent of the population. Around Australia has a higher percentage 1.3 million speak a European language of employed people in knowledge- in addition to English10 intensive services than the US, Japan and South Korea7 Cultural diversity makes Australia an ideal location to develop new content More than 40 per cent of Australia’s and trial it, with the end goal to workforce holds a tertiary qualification8 service global markets One in five university students is Combined skills and language studying a science, technology, capabilities present opportunities for engineering or maths subject9 edtech companies to use Australia as a base for translation or market 4. A WELL POSITIONED development activities NATION Australia is in the Asian Time Zone and bridges closing of the US and opening of the European business day Offers 24-hour access for organisations with round-the-clock operations

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 7 Key supporting industries in Australia enable world-class edtech. BIG DATA ANALYTICS Australia is pioneering new solutions for the storage and A CYBER SECURE NATION A GAME-DEVELOPING analysis of large data sets, working Australia is at the forefront of online safety NATION on global big data research and security. Robust legislation, advanced projects such as the Square Australia has a dynamic and law enforcement capability, rigorous Kilometre Array, which will produce sophisticated game development policy development and strong technical one Exabyte of data per day. industry, with a long history of defences, like those present in Australia, developing and marketing products for are all key in this area. the largest game publishers in the world. Australia’s commitment to cyber security The industry continues to make an is evidenced by the: international impact disproportionate THERE ARE MORE THAN Development of the Australian Cyber to its size. More than 200 Australian Security Strategy game development companies are creating digital games across Appointment of first Australian mobile, console, computer, handheld 200 Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and browser platforms that are Launch of the Australian Cyber internationally recognised for their Security Growth Network design creativity, innovation, quality GAME DEVELOPMENT Increased number of specialised and technical skills. COMPANIES IN AUSTRALIA cyber security university courses Nearly 70 per cent of Australians play Increased number of commercial cyber video games for entertainment12, but security practitioners in Australia games are also used extensively in Cybersecurity will need to form the basis education and edtech. of every new technology going forward, including edtech, and Australian companies are well placed to respond to this.

See www.austrade.gov.au/edtech/partner-with-australian-edtech-companies/ for a selection of Australian edtech companies adopting gamified solutions.

8 AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 9 Australia has more than 350 edtech companies servicing the entire education ecosystem.

In its most recent analysis of the industry, Australia is the world’s third most Frost & Sullivan found that the Australian popular destination for students.17 edtech market is expected to grow to International education is Australia’s A$1.7 billion by 2022.13 The market is third largest export, valued at $A22.4 expected to grow significantly amidst billion in 2016 and supports more than increasing student demand for education 130,000 Australian jobs.18 While there services and technology innovation, is strong forecast demand for ongoing competition amongst institutions and delivery of education in Australia, the decreasing acquisition costs.13 greatest emerging opportunities will be borderless and enabled by edtech. Of the almost 200 edtech companies THE Research by Deloitte Access Economics surveyed by EduGrowth in 2017, almost forecasts one billion prospective learners half offer solutions for the secondary AUSTRALIAN across 29 markets by 2025.19 school sector and over 40 per cent offer EDTECH solutions for the university sector. The majority of Australian edtech THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY solutions are Software as a Service EDTECH MARKET IS EXPECTED TO (SaaS) and app-based solutions, with a relatively even split between B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business GROW TO to Consumer) business models.14 BY 2022 Over 12 per cent of Australian startup A$1.7 B founders are targeting the education industry - making it the fifth largest 15 industry vertical being targeted nationally. Corporate Australia is also active In the state of Victoria, education is the in edtech. PwC delivers a 21st single largest industry vertical being Century Minds Program focussed 16 targeted by startup founders. on STEM initiatives while Navitas Australia’s reputation in delivering high Ventures has launched the quality education has long been recognised world’s first global edtech census domestically and in international markets. that maps 5000 companies over These same credentials have translated to 50 countries. our edtech industry as well. TECHNOLOGY AND AUSTRALIAN ONLINE EDUCATION Australia’s National Broadband Many Australian edtech solutions serve to Network will help online education grow support and improve the expanding provision The rollout of the National of online learning. Broadband Network (NBN), Australia’s open-access data The Australian online education industry There are more than 1,100 online network project, will aid online has expanded rapidly in the past five education providers in Australia, education growth in Australia by years. Technological developments and generating approximately $A5.4 billion raising the number of internet increasing positive public perception in revenue.20 Leading online providers connections and increasing the of online courses have been vital to in Australia include Ducere, Online speed of data transfer across this growth. Education institutions Education Services, Open Colleges, Australia. The NBN is also likely to have harnessed the greater reliability Open Training and Education Network, stimulate software and program of internet connections and mobile and Open Universities Australia. As innovation as the online education 20 technology to deliver to more students. student demand surges, industry market broadens. The trend towards reskilling and lifelong revenue is forecast to increase by an learning is also expected to support annualised 4.5 per cent over the next five growth in flexible methods of study, such years to $A6.8 billion.20 as online education.20

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 11 AUSTRALIA’S COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION IN EDUCATION Australia is leading the way with innovative, world-class solutions for the education sector. The commitment to delivering the best-of-the- best has never been greater.

Australia pioneered distance education The virtual reality simulator at UNSW University of Technology Sydney programs such as School of the Air, called AVIE is a world first which casts has created what it believes is the Open Universities Australia and other 360-degree 3D images using a floor- world’s first transdisciplinary faculty correspondence programs which have to-ceiling screen and is available for of innovation delivered quality educational services to student use and industry training Melbourne Polytechnic hosts the only learners across Australia for decades LaTrobe University launched a academically integrated finance and Deakin University was the first university gamified app to guide students innovation intelligence system. It is in the world to partner with IBM’s in learning capabilities such as the first tertiary education institute ground-breaking machine learning and innovation and big picture awareness, to provide students and industry artificial intelligence program, Watson cultural intelligence, collaboration, and partners access to the world’s single communicating and influencing largest global repository of innovation In another world first, Deakin and analytics University is offering a suite of degree South Australian schools are using programs through a global massive robots to assist teachers and improve DeakinDigital is offering a world-first open online course (MOOC) provider. curriculum in a world-first study system of independently verified, While the University of Queensland, evidence-based employability Queensland and Victoria have made the Australian National University, coding and robotics compulsory in credentials. Backed by Deakin the University of Adelaide and Curtin schools from prep to Year 10 University, the credentials provide University are offering MicroMasters recognition of an individual’s skills and My eQuals is a digital authenticated through a MOOC provider capability learned through work and qualifications system used by life, benchmarked against globally Australia’s first MOOC provider, universities in Australia to issue recognised standards Open2Study, was launched by Open electronic transcripts and graduation Universities Australia in 2013 documents. My eQuals is Australia’s Western Australia is leading the world response to the Groningen in an international coding program for Declaration, which is an international children. Worldwide there are just over initiative involving 56 universities and 1000 dojos, or learning places, where 20 private sector companies from children learn computer coding, and around the world 95 of these are in Western Australia.

12 AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 110+

FOSTERING INNOVATION IN AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES Around the country, Australian universities are fostering innovation and commercialisation through over 110 in-house incubators and accelerator programs21, such as:

Cicada Innovations (UNSW, ANU, UTS UTS Hatchery and University of Sydney) La Trobe Accelerator Program (LTAP) Curtin Accelerate Victoria University Hanger University of Melbourne Accelerator Swinburne University Program (MAP) Innovation Precinct University of Sydney Incubate Queensland University of University of Wollongong iAccelerate Technology Bluebox UNSW Michael Crouch Innovation Centre

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 13 Many Australian edtech companies have used academic research to underpin the design and development of their edtech products.

ACADEMIC FACULTY CREATES SMART SOFTWARE The Melbourne Graduate School of growth for students aged 13 and over. Education at the University of Melbourne The C21 assessment system was used in a is a world leader in teaching and pilot study of 800 students across grades educational research, ranked number five and nine in Colombia and Peru and one in Australia and number five globally. is currently being used in Australia, Costa It provides extensive research and Rica, Finland, the Netherlands, Singapore ACADEMIC consulting services to international and the United States. organisations including the World Teacher Exit Capability and Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, the Asian FOUNDATIONS Assessment Tool (TEXCAT): which Development Bank, the Education uses a secure web-based platform to Endowment Fund (UK) and education IN AUSTRALIAN enable teacher accreditation authorities ministries around the world. and educational institutions to assess EDTECH Various research centres within the the graduating teacher’s pedagogical School including the Assessment knowledge and skills. Research Centre and the Centre for Smart:tests (Specific Mathematics Program Evaluation have developed Assessments that Reveal Thinking): education software solutions, including: which provide online diagnostic 21st Century Skills (C21): which uses mathematic tests for middle-school collaborative problem solving tasks to students and is being licensed to the facilitate individual social and cognitive Israel Bureau of Education. THE INFLUENCE OF EDTECH COMPANY PROFESSOR JOHN HATTIE FOUNDED BY Laureate Professor John Hattie is the DR. ALAN FINKEL Director of the Melbourne Education The former Chancellor of Monash Research Institute and an internationally University and Australia’s Chief Scientist, renowned academic. His influential book Dr. Alan Finkel, founded educational Visible Learning: A synthesis of over 800 software company Stile Education. Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement Dr. Finkel also co-founded Cosmos is believed to be the world’s largest Magazine, which operates a secondary evidence-based study into factors that schools science education program improve student learning. Involving more called Cosmos for Schools: a curriculum- than 80 million students from around complete collection of interactive, the world and bringing together 50,000 classroom-ready science lessons for smaller studies, the study found positive Years 7 - 10. Every unit is based on a teacher-student interaction was the most recent story from Cosmos Magazine, important factor in effective teaching. making them engaging and relevant to Australian education technology students. The lessons offered by Stile companies have developed edtech also bring in material from the CSIRO's products that are informed, designed popular children's science magazine, and developed based on the educational Double Helix, and include interactive research of Professor Hattie, such as interviews with CSIRO scientists. Pearson Australia Lightbook and Verso.

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 15 Here are just some of the world-class Australian solutions, platforms and programs that are setting the benchmark for the edtech industry around the world.

3P LEARNING 3P Learning is a global online education The company’s continued PARTNER WITH company offering cloud-based dedication to education has resources for schools and students in positioned it as the top-ranked AUSTRALIAN grades K-12. The company provides a provider of online mathematics and portfolio of digital education solutions literacy solutions in multiple regions EDTECH to improve outcomes in subjects - including Australia, New Zealand including mathematics and literacy and the United Kingdom. As a COMPANIES - guided by a mission to help students, result of its service to the academic families and teachers love learning. community, 3P Learning has been awarded ‘Multinational Company FOR INNOVATIVE, WORLD- 3P Learning solutions are designed of the Year’ at the GESS Education by educators for educators and CLASS EDTECH SOLUTIONS Awards in 2016 and 2017, Microsoft serve millions of students and Global Education Partner of the teachers in thousands of schools Year 2016, as well as numerous around the world. 3P Learning international product awards products, such as Mathletics and including Winner of BESSIE Award Spellodrome, incorporate the latest 2016 (Mathletics) and multiple BETT pedagogical practices and are fully Award nominations in 2016. aligned with international curricula to address academic performance and assessment standards. CAHOOT LEARNING LEARNOSITY Cahoot is a cloud based learning approaches. Collaborations occur Learnosity operates a B2B, SaaS Learnosity delivers millions of tests an platform developed by CPDlive. within the course environment and model and provides a suite of hour - 500 million assessments were between the various stakeholders technologies (APIs) that helps delivered in 2016 – with 25 million Targeted specifically at the global who design, develop and facilitate organisations build and deliver active user accounts in May 2017. professional education market, compelling Cahoot learning e-learning and online assessment Cahoot reclaims the human learning Learnosity counts digital publishers, experiences at scale. delivery solutions across a wide range experience in a digital world. testing organisations, cyber schools, of sectors, including K-12, higher Unprecedented rates of change Cahoot achieves completion rates learning management systems, education and corporate education. experienced by all industries have amongst the best in the world at certification and awarding bodies, significantly shifted how we learn and over 80 per cent. From la Grange’s With intuitive authoring, powerful as well as technology companies grow as individuals and organisations. perspective, it comes about through analytics and over 65 technology- amongst their clients and has offices what he calls the 4.0 of learning - enhanced items, Learnosity provides in Sydney, New York, Los Angeles Co-founders Errol la Grange and connecting heart and mind, with the core technical foundations and Dublin. Anthony Morris see a distinct gap work and purpose. required for any online learning in professional online education. product while clients design the “It does not honour the wealth of CPDlive works with leading US overall user experience and provide real-life experience, knowledge and universities including Stanford the learning content. collective problem solving capability University, Georgia Tech and that professionals can bring into Massachusetts Institute of Technology Specifically designed to be used as learning programs,” said Morris. (MIT). CPDlive has embarked on an part of a bigger learning solution, exciting new program with MIT to co- Learnosity’s technology seamlessly Cahoot is designed to draw out design, develop and deliver two MIT integrates into third-party solutions, their insights through a mixture of Professional Certificates made up of providing end users with powerful technology smarts, learner-centered eight courses. and engaging learning experiences. design and highly collaborative

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 17 MATHSPACE OPENLEARNING Mathspace is the world’s first adaptive Mathspace has partnered with various OpenLearning has created a social OpenLearning works with over 400 mathematics program allowing organisations to grow their presence learning platform that enables the organisations including leading students to receive feedback at every outside of Australia. authoring and delivery of online universities, professional bodies, step of a maths problem, and includes courses within a vibrant learning businesses and government. They In 2016 a partnership with Pearson handwriting recognition for mobile community. Their platform is offer fully online and blended saw Mathspace integrate with devices. Each step of students’ maths SaaS-based and cloud-hosted and postgraduate courses at UNSW, Pearson’s flagship MathLab product reasoning is automatically graded, all courses are accessible from online vocational qualifications which serves over 3 million users in with feedback, hints and suggestions PC and Mac as well as Android with TAFE NSW and professional North America. In 2017 Mathspace guiding students to the final answer. and iOS phones and tablets. The development courses from Engineers was selected by the education Mathspace’s focus on the process of platform has an extensive set of Education Australia. technology arm of the Hong Kong solving a maths problem - rather than API’s that enable integration with government (HKEdcity) to be the OpenLearning is also the national just the final result - distinguishes it LMS, web-based applications and country’s digital Maths program. online learning platform in from the vast majority of online maths services and third party data. Mathspace was selected after a Malaysia - adopted by all 20 public programs, which are primarily based competitive global tender as part OpenLearning was founded at the universities, 8 private universities around multiple-choice. of their eResources Acquisition University of New South Wales and all 34 polytechnics supporting Mathspace includes a full digital project which will run until 2019. (UNSW) in 2012 and launched its more than 450,000 students. textbook, instructional videos, a In 2017 Mathspace also partnered first course in computing that year. OpenLearning has a 35-person powerful adaptive learning engine, with Westpac Bank to provide There are now more than 800,000 office in Kuala Lumpur supporting and is available on all devices, Mathspace Essentials free to all students from over 180 countries universities and partnerships with with alignment to multiple curricula Australian students. studying OpenLearning accredited Malaysia Telecom, Media Prima (including Australia, the US, UK, Hong and non-accredited courses. and Cybersecurity Malaysia. Kong and Singapore) for Grade Five

through to pre-calculus.

18 AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT MORE AUSTRALIAN EDTECH SOLUTIONS? Visit www.austrade.gov.au/edtech for a selection of Australian edtech solutions covering:

Administrative solutions School solutions English language solutions Vocational education and training solutions Sector agnostic solutions Learning management systems Virtual reality solutions Online assessment solutions Tutoring solutions Corporate training solutions Game-based solutions

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 19 Australia has an integrated education system supported by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) - a national policy for regulated qualifications across schools, vocational education and training and higher education.

THE THE AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM IN NUMBERS In 2016:

AUSTRALIAN 9,400+ schools with 3.8 million students • Government: 6600+; Catholic: 1700+; Independent: 1000+ EDUCATION • Primary: 6200+; Secondary: 1400+; Combined: 1300+; Special Schools: 460+ SYSTEM 120+ English language colleges with 150,000+ students IT’S ROBUST, INTEGRATED 5000+ registered training organisations with 4.5 million students AND RENOWNED 125 higher education providers 43 universities with 1 million students

In May 2016 it was estimated that over 3 million people aged 15 to 64 were enrolled in formal study in Australia. Of these, 1.2 million people were aged 15 to 19 and 741,100 people were aged 20 to 24.22 THE AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM AT A GLANCE

PRIMARY SECONDARY VOCATIONAL PRESCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL EDUCATION AND TRAINING HIGHER EDUCATION AQF LEVEL

Doctoral Degree Level 10

Masters Degree Level 9

Bachelor Honours Degree

Vocational Graduate Diploma Level 8 Graduate Diploma

Vocational Graduate Certificate Graduate Certificate

Bachelor Degree Level 7

Associate Degree Level 6 Advanced Diploma

Diploma Level 5

Certificate IV Level 4

Certificate III Level 3

Certificate II Level 2

Certificate I Level 1 Senior Secondary Certificate of Education

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 21 Formal schooling starts with a foundation States and territories are responsible year, followed by 12 years of primary for the delivery of school education and secondary school, until at least in Australia with schools operated by the age of 16. In the senior secondary government and non-government years, students can study for their Senior education authorities, including faith-based Secondary Certificate of Education, and independent schools. All schools which is required for entry to most are registered with the state or territory Australian universities and vocational education regulators and are subject to education and training institutions. It is government requirements in terms of also recognised as an entry requirement infrastructure and teacher registration. for many international universities. Relevant industry groups include the Each Australian state and territory has Australian Curriculum, Assessment and a different approach to preschool (also Reporting Authority, Education Services known as kindergarten) with some Australia and the Australian Council for operating independently and some Computers in Education. SCHOOLS IN within primary schools. AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS: THE FIGURES As of 201623 there are:

3,798,226 enrolled students (65% Government, 20% Catholic, 15% Independent) 394,762 full-time equivalent in-school staff 344,676 children enrolled in preschool programs AN EXCITING VICTORIAN STATE INITIATIVE The Victorian Government’s A$128 million Tech Schools Initiative will see construction of ten Tech Schools across the state by 2018. The schools will use leading-edge technology, discovery and innovation to deliver the advanced education and training that students need to flourish in the rapidly changing global economy. There will be a strong emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills. Victoria also has six Science and Mathematics Specialist Centres to engage students and teachers in contemporary, experiential science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM curriculum.

THE AUSTRALIAN THE TECHNOLOGIES CURRICULUM CURRICULUM There is a national standard that sets out This sits under the main Australian what Australian students are taught. It Curriculum and has two distinct but means that all Australian students have related subjects: access to the same content, and their Design and Technologies, in which achievements can be judged against students use design thinking and consistent national standards. technologies to generate and produce The current curriculum gives attention to designed solutions for authentic needs seven general capabilities that are vital and opportunities for life and work in the 21st century: Digital Technologies, in which students use computational thinking and Literacy capability information systems to define, design Numeracy capability and implement digital solutions Information and communication technology capability Critical and creative thinking Personal and social capability Ethical understanding Intercultural understanding

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 23 AUSTRALIA IS COMMITTED TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS TO DIGITAL LEARNING The Australian Governments, both AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH national and state, support the The National Innovation and Science LANGUAGE TRAINING appropriate use of technology in Agenda’s Inspiring all Australians in Australia is a well-respected Australian schools to prepare students to digital literacy and STEM measure24 will supplier of English language learn, train and live in a digital world. see a variety of initiatives introduced to training services and is the increase the participation of students and Australian schools are rich in ICT only country in the world with the wider community in STEM and to resources and infrastructure, however an English language training improve their digital literacy. They include: many are adopting a Bring Your Own accreditation and quality Device policy, which allows students assurance framework. English initiatives to inspire curiosity to bring their own digital devices to and develop science and maths Australia is the national peak body school for the purposes of learning. knowledge in early childhood for the English language sector, This concept recognises that students representing over 120 colleges. online computing challenges for Year and their parents and caregivers would Over 80 per cent of international 5 and 7 students nationally like to use the same digital devices at students learning English in Information and Communication school and at home. Australia choose to study with an Technology (ICT) summer schools for Australian schools have one computer English Australia member college. Year 9 and 10 for every student compared to the In 2016, there were over 150,000 support for school leaders to drive OECD average of one computer for enrolments in English language digital literacy and partnerships every five students. And the average courses in Australia. between ICT leaders and schools 15-year-old Australian student spends Total funding for this initiative is A$112.2 more of their school day – around million over four years from 2016.24 an hour – on the internet than their counterparts around the world.25

24 AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY BENEFIT FROM AUSTRALIA’S UNIQUE NATIONAL SCHOOLS INTEROPERABILITY PROGRAM (NSIP) NSIP aims to advance the development of digital learning services and infrastructure for schools across Australia. To achieve this NSIP is promoting technical standards and supporting projects that solve problems associated with data exchange between systems and organisations. This includes support for the Systems Interoperability Framework, which has been endorsed as the preferred method for exchanging data in the Australian school sector. It also includes the development of the Learning Services Architecture, which is an agreed national approach for integrating information systems that exchange data about learners in schools. NSIP has also developed National Data Exchange Information Contracts in conjunction with school authorities and solution providers to support solutions that perform core school processes such as: enrolment, attendance, timetabling, assessment, finance and well being. For more information visit nsip.edu.au

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 25 Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector is based on a partnership between governments and industry.

Industry and employer groups contribute There are approximately 5000 RTOs in to training policies and priorities, and Australia. Across metropolitan and regional to developing qualifications that deliver areas, Australia has 58 government- skills to the workforce. owned TAFE institutes and university TAFE divisions, as well as the Australia-Pacific VET qualifications are provided by Technical College (APTC). registered training organisations AUSTRALIAN (RTOs) which include government VET industry bodies include TAFE institutions called Technical and Further Directors Australia and the Australian VOCATIONAL Education (TAFE) institutions, as well as Council for Private Education and Training. EDUCATION private institutions. AND TRAINING Number of VET students by location26 WORLD-CLASS TERTIARY EDUCATION

57,600 1,095,600 484,500 245,200 1,338,200

83,700 1,117,600

75,300 Australia’s higher education system is made up of universities and higher education providers that play a critical role in fuelling innovation, driving productivity and giving students the skills they need for future success.

There are 125 registered higher Higher education peak bodies include education providers in Australia. There Universities Australia, the Group of Eight, are also 43 universities; 40 of which are the Australian Technology Network Australian, two international, and one of Universities, Innovative Research private specialty university. Australian Universities, the Regional Universities universities have more than one million Network, the Australian Council for AUSTRALIAN enrolled students and employ over Private Education and Training and the HIGHER 100,000 staff. Council of Private Higher Education. EDUCATION AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 37 Australian universities have been Sixteen of Australia’s universities appear included among the world’s best in the in the ranking of the world’s top 100 latest QS World University Rankings. universities less than 50-years-old, and Seven Australian universities are in the half of these are in the top 50. This is a the global top 100, with a further 10 higher number of young universities than making the top 300. any other nation in the world.27 Five Australian institutions claimed The Quality Indicators for Learning and top 25 places in the Times Higher Teaching (QILT) is an alternative ranking Education ranking of the most system that compares higher education international universities - a new institutions and study areas, based on measure that takes account of the results of thousands of surveys the proportion of international staff completed by domestic and international, and students and the strength of current and former students. international reputations and cross- border research collaborations.

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 27 AUSTRALIA’S RESEARCH EXCELLENCE PROCUREMENT Research is a defining characteristic of Australia’s universities. Indeed, to be IN AUSTRALIAN recognised as a university, our institutions must demonstrate quality-benchmarked UNIVERSITIES research proficiency in at least three disciplines. This structural prerequisite balances the spread of knowledge with the creation of knowledge. The Australian Universities Procurement Network (AUPN) works to improve Australia accounts for nearly 3 per The €1.5 billion Square Kilometre strategic procurement practices cent of the world’s research output, Array telescope has been jointly in Australian universities through with less than half a per cent of the awarded to Australia, New Zealand a collaborative approach focusing world’s population and southern Africa on: sharing expertise and business intelligence; promoting the benefits of The Commonwealth Scientific and Australia has one of the world’s Industrial Research Organisation highest rates of patent applications aggregated purchasing; greater efficiency (CSIRO), Australia’s national science for innovations in renewable energy in processes; professional procurement agency and one of the largest and most and biotechnology education opportunities; and encouraging diverse research agencies in the world, the development of regional and national Australian scientists and researchers aggregated procurement contracts. is in the top 1 per cent of world scientific have been responsible for or Australian Universities ultimately make institutions in 14 of 22 research fields contributed to major breakthroughs their own procurement decisions or Across 22 scientific research fields, and technological advances around may choose to outsource the selection over 80 per cent of Australia’s major the world, including: and implementation of high-value scientific research publications have a • Wi-fi procurements to professional service firms. relative impact of at least 20 per cent • Google Maps 28 above the global average • Black box flight recorder Australia has educated 15 Nobel • Bionic ear laureates over the last century, in the • Spray-on-skin fields of medicine, science and literature • Penicillin as a medical antibiotic • CETO wave energy The Australian Synchrotron is the largest stand-alone piece of scientific • Permaculture infrastructure in the southern hemisphere • Cervical cancer vaccine

28 AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 29 Investors have a choice of engagement models, including:

Establishing an Australian subsidiary to Establishing an Asia Pacific INVEST IN supply the local market headquarters in Australia, given Australia’s extensive economic and AUSTRALIA cultural ties with Asia

Establishing joint ventures or Establishing joint ventures or strategic alliances with an Australian strategic alliances with Australian company with complementary companies to research, develop, technologies, products or services upscale or commercialise niche that yield competitive advantage and Australian technologies to launch expanded market access in global markets AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 31 WHY INVEST IN AUSTRALIA?

A high ranking global economy Ease of doing business in Australia A partner for growth in Asia With a population of just 24.2 million, Australia’s political stability, transparent Australia provides a base for expansion Australia is the 13th largest economy regulatory system, and sound into fast-growing Asian nations. Ten of the in the world and the fifth largest in the governance frameworks underpin its country’s top 12 export markets are in Asia. Asian region.29 Australia’s economic economic resilience. Ranked in the Australia has strong business and growth has outperformed other major global top five on the Index of Economic cultural ties with Asia. The country’s advanced economies. Global forecasts Freedom30, Australia’s effective medium and long-term growth outlook predict Australia will maintain its position governance and control of corruption is supported by increasingly strong as the world’s 13th largest economy (in provide multinationals with a safe, ties to the rapidly growing Asian US dollar terms) in 2017. secure business environment. region. Recently completed free trade Australia’s nominal GDP is estimated at Australia is ranked 15th out of 190 agreements make Australia even more US$1.3 trillion (A$1.7 trillion) and accounts economies for ease of doing business, competitive and increase prospects for for 1.7 per cent of the global economy. and fifth when compared to economies greater two-way investment. Australia has almost tripled the value of with a similar or larger population. its total production in two decades.29 Australia’s Quality of Judicial Processes Index is rated the world’s best.31 Global rankings come in 3rd for enforcing contracts, 5th for ease of getting credit and 7th for starting a business.31 Offering competitive office space rates and remuneration for professionals, Australia’s major cities also enjoy some of the highest quality of living in the world. Six Australian cities are ranked in the global top 40 for their quality of living.32 These credentials attract some of the world’s largest organisations to Australia. All Top 20 FT Global 500 companies and all Top 10 Fortune Global 500 have operations in Australia. And one in five businesses in Australia with more than 200 employees is at least 50 per cent foreign-owned.

32 AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY Investing in innovation Australia has a strong record of Establishing Innovation and Science R&D TAX INCENTIVE innovation, underpinned by its significant Australia – an independent body government and private sector R&D responsible for strategic whole-of- Are you eligible for an R&D tax incentive? investment and quality-enabling ICT government advice on all science, Companies performing eligible R&D activities can apply for: infrastructure. The Australian Government research and innovation matters makes a significant annual investment Support for Australian startups to in science, research and innovation. In access Landing Pads in global 33 Refundable Tax Offset 2015/16 it invested A$9.7 billion. innovation hotspots – Singapore, for eligible entities with an Australia’s R&D expenditure as a San Francisco, Shanghai, Tel Aviv 43.5% aggregated turnover of less than percentage of GDP in purchasing power and Berlin. These will provide short- A$20 million (unless they are controlled parity terms is strong. Australia is ranked term operational bases from which by tax-exempt entities) in the top 10 among OECD member to access customers, entrepreneurial (for income years from 1 July 2016) nations for its total expenditure on R&D.34 talent, mentors, investors and a wider connected network of Australia’s National Innovation and innovation hubs Science Agenda is a framework for New tax breaks for early-stage Australian innovation policy. The investors in innovative startups. initiatives are worth $1.1 billion over the Investors will receive a 20 per cent next four years: non-refundable tax offset based on the Non-Refundable Tax Offset 38.5% A$250 million into a A$500 million amount of their investment, as well as for all other eligible entities Biomedical Translation Fund to a capital gains tax exemption (for income years from 1 July 2016) promote innovation in Australia’s strong The R&D Tax Incentive continues biotechnology and healthcare sectors to helps companies doing eligible A$200 million CSIRO Innovation Fund work to create new or improved for co-investment in new startups and products, processes and services accelerator opportunities by reducing their tax For trade and investment, there is no better partner than Australia. A$163 million for research-industry partnership grants through the Australian Research Council for 258 research projects

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 33 London-based education software company, Firefly, is finding Australia a perfect platform to grow and expand its international presence.

Launched in 2011, Firefly – a learning According to Souter, the education platform, parent portal, intranet and sectors in both countries have learning management system all in one – established reputations as early adopters has proved highly popular in hundreds of of technology and were good business schools across the United Kingdom. and cultural fits. To grow global sales further, Firefly “Australian education is open to new executives wanted a permanent entrants and not afraid of market presence overseas and an office able disruptors. We witnessed a great cultural INVEST IN to provide local support to its growing attitude, and Australian schools always international customer-base, so the Asia- seem willing to try something new. We AUSTRALIA Pacific region became the focus. found genuine enthusiasm for new technology and it didn’t matter where it Firefly executives reviewed two options, came from,” he said. CASE STUDY Singapore and Australia. “We chose Australia as a first step abroad because it’s a great market for new software and we knew there would be few, if any, cultural barriers.” The new Sydney office has enhanced Firefly’s ability to support its customers across the globe, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

LOCATION LOCATION EASE IN ESTABLISHING ACCESS TO THE ASIA- “With an office on Australia’s east coast, A NEW OFFICE PACIFIC REGION we can easily provide 18 hours of live The company wanted to ensure their new The new Sydney office became technical support to teachers around the office was operational quickly so it turned operational in early 2015 and Firefly world without asking employees to work to Austrade’s London office for advice. has commenced building a sales and out of hours. This is extremely valuable to training team, which will market the a software services company,’ said Souter. “Austrade were really great. They company’s technology to Australian gave us the information we needed Second, with cloud services expanding, schools and provide ongoing support. to set up in Sydney. They introduced the time difference enables the representatives from NSW Trade “Once we are established in Sydney, company’s Sydney-based technical staff and Investment; put us in touch with we will use the office as a base for to execute server updates outside of lawyers who helped with working visas; expansion into Asia,” said Souter. the United Kingdom’s business hours, and helped us understand how the avoiding disruption to its customers. “It will be easy to hire the sort of people schooling system works in Australia - we need to spearhead that expansion Souter added lifestyle as another particularly school budgeting cycles,” because of the common language and powerful attraction. “Australia is a great said Souter. culture. The new Sydney office also secondment location for London- based means we will benefit directly from employees, and our employees are keen Australia’s links to Asia,” added Souter. to work here.”

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 35 Edtech in Australia has a strong and highly involved support network across a variety of relevant organisations. These organisations offer support, advocacy, investment opportunities, advice and encouragement to Australian edtech companies.

Australian Computer Society Australian Information Australian Computer Society (ACS) is Industry Association the professional association and peak The Australian Information Industry INDUSTRY body representing Australia’s ICT sector. Association (AIIA) is Australia’s peak ACS’ mission is to deliver authoritative representative body and advocacy ASSOCIATIONS independent knowledge and insight into group for those in the digital ecosystem. technology, build relevant technology Since 1978 the AIIA has pursued SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS capacity and capability and be a catalyst activities to stimulate and grow the FOR EDTECH for innovative creation and adoption of digital arena, to create a favourable technology for the benefit of commerce, business environment for its members governments and society. and to contribute to Australia’s acs.org.au economic prosperity. The AIIA does this by providing a strong voice of influence; building a sense of community through events and education; enabling a network for collaboration and inspiration; and developing compelling content and relevant information. aiia.com.au

Key edtech events in Australia include the EduTECH Conference Australia; AFR Edtech Summit and Educhange. Education Changemakers EduGrowth Knowledge Commercialisation StartupAUS Education Changemakers (EC) provides EduGrowth is Australia’s edtech Australasia StartupAUS is a not-for-profit innovation and leadership training to acceleration network for high growth, Knowledge Commercialisation organisation formed in 2013 by more than 25,000 teachers and school scalable education. The not-for-profit Australasia is the peak body leading fifty leaders in the national start- leaders across the world each year. Their organisation supports the accelerated best practice in industry engagement, up community. Its mission is to acceleration arm EClabs works exclusively growth of technology startups commercialisation and entrepreneurship transform Australia through technology with K-12 focused education startups and developing products and services for for public research organisations in entrepreneurship, believing a home- they hold three day rapid accelerators the education sector. Australia and New Zealand. grown tech sector is vital to the future in Melbourne and London, providing kca.asn.au of Australian jobs and wealth. It also EduGrowth is committed to bringing free training and support to early stage works to advocate for policies to create the expertise of Australia’s world class education ventures and also identifying Muru-D a supportive culture and encourage the education system together with the which ventures move into a formal Muru-D is the startup accelerator development of more entrepreneurs innovation capabilities of the startup partnership with EC. This partnership backed by Telstra. It invests in great with the right skills. It is supported community, to boldly reimagine the provides entry into the global EC sales teams with innovative technology and by volunteers who are immersed learning experience. channels, capital raises with strategic global ambitions. It has accelerated 73 in Australia’s startup community, education investors, ongoing strategic EduGrowth’s ambition is to see 100 startups to date across five locations responsible for organising grassroots support from the EC team and office million learners educated globally per in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, efforts and coordinating community space. EC is also behind Australia’s first annum by 2025 through Australian Perth and Singapore. It provides activities such as Startup Spring. conference focused on K-12 education education. Since launching in October introductions to corporate partners, startupaus.org ventures, Edupreneur, which is held as 2016, the organisation has established channel partners, marketing partners, part of their larger Educhange Education a community of more than 1500 edtech and ‘productisation partners’ leveraging Sydney Education Technology Group Festival in Melbourne. entrepreneurs, educators, technology the talents of Telstra personnel. It has Sydney Education Technology Group educationchangemakers.com and business leaders. global alliances with 500 Startups, HAX, is a meet-up group with over 400 edugrowth.com.au Chinaccelerator, The Junction and The members, interested in connecting Icehouse. Australian edtech graduates passionate educators, tech geeks, and from Muru-D include Chatty Kids, investors who are interested in applying ELLA, Fluid Education, Funetics, Inkerz, technology to solve current problems in Momentum Cloud, OpenLearning, Our education. Little Foxes and SoccerBrain. sydedutech.org muru-d.com

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 37 REFERENCES 1. Department of Industry, Innovation 12. Brand, J. E. & Todhunter, S. 24. Department of Education and and Science, Australia’s Digital Digital Australia 2016. Eveleigh, Training, Inspiring all Australians in Economy Update, 2016 NSW: IGEA 2015. digital literacy and STEM 2. Telsyte and NBN, Internet 13. Frost and Sullivan, Australian 25. OECD, Education at a Glance, 2015 uninterrupted: Australian households Edutech Market: Key Trends, 26. NCVER Total VET Activity 2015 of the connected future, 2016 Technologies and Opportunities Report, July 2016 2016-2022 3. Nielsen, Australian Connected 27. Times Higher Education, 150 Under Consumers Report: Evolving 14. EduGrowth Australian Edtech 50 Rankings 2016 patterns of media consumption in Census 2017 the digital age, 2014 28. InCites, Clarivate Analytics (data as 15. Startup Muster, 2016 Annual Report at 8 November 2016) 4. NAB Online Retail Sales Index, 2016 16. Startup Victoria, 2017 Survey 29. International Monetary Fund, World 5. BSA, Global Cloud Computing 17. UNESCO, Institute for Statistics, Economic Outlook Database, Scorecard, 2016 Education, Total inbound October 2016 6. World Economic Forum, Switzerland internationally mobile students, both 30. The Wall Street Journal and The and Harvard University, Global sexes (2014 or latest data available, Heritage Foundation, 2016 Index of Competitiveness Report 2016–17 extracted 12 October 2016) Economic Freedom 7. Cornell University, INSEAD, and 18. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cat. 31. World Bank Group, Doing Business the World Intellectual Property No. 5368.0 - International Trade in 2017: Equal Opportunity for All Organisation, The Global Innovation Goods and Services (Table 11a), 2017 (released 26 October 2016) Index 2016 19. Deloitte Access Economics, Growth 32. Mercer 2016 Quality of Living 8. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cat. and opportunity in Australian Rankings No. 62270DO001_201505 Education International Education, 2015 and Work, Australia, May 2015 33. Department of Industry and 20. IBISWorld Industry Report X0008, Science, The Australian 9. Deloitte Access Economics and Online Education in Australia, 2017 Government’s 2015-16 Science, the Australian Computer Society, 21. Universities Australia, University Research and Innovation Budget Australia’s Digital Pulse 2016 Startup Support Programs, 2017 Tables, July 2015 10. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cat. 22. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cat. 34. OECD, Main Science and No. 6291.055.001 – Labour Force, No. 6227.0 – Education and Work, Technology Indicators Database; Australia, Detailed – Electronic Australia, 2016 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Delivery, August 2016 23. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cat. Science, Technology and Innovation 11. Australian Bureau of Statistics, No. 4221.0 – Schools, Australia, 2016 Database, July 2016 Cat. No. 4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, April 2013

38 AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY To learn more about Australia’s expertise in edtech, help define your needs and choose the best Australian partner to work with, contact the Australian Trade and Investment Commission in your country or visit austrade.gov.au

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AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY 39 For more information visit www.austrade.gov.au/edtech