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betterU Education Corporation $BTRU.ca Provides Update on $100M Investment in Progress of Completing $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:29 AM on Wednesday, September 26th, 2018

Betteru large

  • As part of these ongoing development efforts, TUC was required to provide betterU with validation that both their operating entity (TUC) and funding entity (GDS) had been established.
  • TUC has provided betterU with copies of their Articles of Incorporation and Certificates for both TU Capital Ltd. and GDS Holdings Ltd.
  • In addition, a copy of an HSBC bank statement was also provided to betterU validating that the Fund contributors had the capacity to support such an investment.
  • This statement, provided under confidentially, included the bank name, account number, name of the account holder and a US$9 billion account balance

OTTAWA, Sept. 26, 2018 — betterU Education Corp. (TSX-V:BTRU) (FRANKFURT:5OGA) (the “Corporation” or “betterU”) would like to provide an update on the investment progress.

Brad Loiselle, CEO of betterU travelled to Tokyo, Japan from August 29th to September 7th where he had a series of meetings, including discussions with the management of TU Capital Co. Ltd. (“TUC”) from North America. TUC confirmed that the delay in them receiving investment funds by GDS Holding Ltd. (the “Fund” or “GDS”) had to do with an amendment restricting GDS from investing in certain countries. While this does not affect TUC’s investments into Canadian companies, it was a step that was unforeseen and currently being executed on this week according to TUC. Both TUC with GDS are expected back in Tokyo this upcoming next week to complete the necessary amendment. According to TUC, upon execution of this amendment, the funds will be released to them for distribution to their Canadian investments. There was no exact date provided by TUC to betterU indicating when the funds would be received other then a window of 7 days after the funds have been released to them.

The Chairman of TU Capital Ltd., Mr. Kenny Ho, writes, “We also wanted to apologize for the ongoing delays and the impact it has created for betterU. We had unfortunately underestimated the amount of work and associated timelines for the closing over the last year due to the many investments we are making in Canada and abroad. The overall delays have been due to the time and effort placed in building the GDS fund structure, setting up TUC’s operations and working with their Canadian partners while we continued to work with our global ones. We are now on the last phase of this long process and our investment team is working hard to complete the release of funds to betterU. These delays will in no way affect the US$100M equity investment or the agreed purchase price of US$3.00/share. betterU is an exciting company that continues to advance their efforts globally and we truly believe has the potential to be a positive change for emerging markets and the world.”

As part of these ongoing development efforts, TUC was required to provide betterU with validation that both their operating entity (TUC) and funding entity (GDS) had been established. TUC has provided betterU with copies of their Articles of Incorporation and Certificates for both TU Capital Ltd. and GDS Holdings Ltd. In addition, a copy of an HSBC bank statement was also provided to betterU validating that the Fund contributors had the capacity to support such an investment. This statement, provided under confidentially, included the bank name, account number, name of the account holder and a US$9 billion account balance. TUC has also agreed to provide betterU with validation of funds received for distribution to betterU upon release from GDS.

Additionally, no insiders, including new appointments of betterU, will trade their shares until closing of this transaction.

The following transaction is still subject to shareholder and TSX-V approval.

Solving one of the world’s largest educational challenges and being able to provide those in need with access to global education is betterU’s core focus. ‘Access’ for people in emerging markets can improve the lives of millions of people helping lift them out of poverty. Over the last 5 years, betterU has focused on putting in place all the plans, partnerships and infrastructure to support such as vision. “As for the $100M investment, while this can and will be an important part of our business acceleration, it does not define us as a business, nor should it ever take away from what we are working to accomplish. Our purpose is to make a difference in the lives of millions and our focus remains locked on this vision,” said Brad Loiselle, President and CEO of betterU.

While revenue is a critical part of sustainability, it has not been part of the Company’s development priorities. The foundation of its platform, partnerships and technology was required to be completed to support the Company’s market security, vision and future revenue plans.  With only a small core team, betterU has had to focus on the bigger picture, which has required the ongoing support of investments as well. To understand the development scope and logic of betterU’s underlying plans on January 3rd, 2017 Mr. Loiselle wrote and published a white paper titled Equalizing Education for all – Building the future value of Ed-Tech which walks the reader through his strategies on how to build a stronger, more valuable Ed-Tech company that in the long-term, could become a market leader. “There are no short-cuts to solving this massive global problem and as with any business, there will continue to be ups and downs, delays, ongoing requirements for cash, turnover of staff and many other issues and opportunities. We are a team of leaders who continue to plan for our future and prepare for the unknown, but always moving forward,” said Mr. Loiselle.

No prior press releases have spoken about the Company’s revenue plans due to this very reason; however, betterU has now shifted its focus to revenue as a top priority since many of its key business pillars have been successfully put in place.

betterU has built a web of opportunities to grow our revenue potential including:

  • Over 30,000 courses from global educators ranging from KG-12, exam preparation, tutoring, higher education, skills development, job preparation and self-interest.
  • Delivery methods across online (self-paced, instructor-led), in-class and blended learning programs to support Tier 1, 2, 3 and rural villages.
  • Internships, job connections and international student recruitment services.
  • Signed agreements providing access to $40M of mass marketing from top media groups in India.
  • A technology platform (www.betterU.in) that provides access and commonality to educators from around the world.
  • A skilling platform that enables customization and individualized learning opportunities to support India’s mass skilling requirements.
  • Programs to support B2C, B2B and B2G training.
  • A Browser Extension platform that integrates into browsers to support learners as they navigate the world of educators through betterU.
  • A growing global leadership team, advisors and partners.
  • And much more coming.

About betterU

betterU, a global education to employment platform, aims to provide access to quality education from around the world to foster growth and opportunity to those who want to better their lives. The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated education-to-employment ecosystem. betterU’s offerings can be categorized into several broad functions: to compliment school programs with flexible KG-12 programs preparing children for next stage of education, to provide access to global educational opportunities from leading educators, to foster an exceptional educational environment by providing befitting skills that lead to a better career, to bridge the gap between one’s existing education and prospective job requirement by training them and lastly, to connect the end user to various job opportunities.

www.betterU.ca and www.betterU.in

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements and information, which may involve risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, competitive developments, risks associated with betterU’s growth, the state of the financial markets, regulatory risks and other factors. There can be no assurance or guarantees that any statements of forward-looking information contained in this release will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral statements containing forward-looking information are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, betterU disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers should not place undue reliance on any statements of forward-looking information that speak only as of the date of this release. Further information on betterU’s public filings, including their most recent audited consolidated financial statements, are available at www.sedar.com.

 

For further information, please visit  https://ir.betteru.ca/investor-overview/press-releases/

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
better Education Corp.
Brad Loiselle, CEO

 

For further information:

 

Investor Relations
1-613-695-4100 Ext. 233
Email: [email protected]

How Online education #edtech is beneficial for students from remote areas in #India $BTRU.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:41 PM on Tuesday, September 4th, 2018

  • A country’s growth is governed by many factors, and education is one of them.
  • While schools in the urban areas are complemented by state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities, and teachers; schools in the rural areas struggle with necessary facilities like toilets and lack a proper teaching staff.
  • Needless to say, this results in a reduced sense of motivation among students and is a significant cause of poor quality of education in rural schools

Despite 85% of the government schools being in villages, students in rural areas rarely get the quality education that could benefit them. This leads to a loss of potential talent which could have contributed to the progress of the country. Keeping in mind the fact that numerous successful IAS aspirants are from rural areas, there are no limits to what these students could achieve if they are given access to quality education.

Non-Profit Organizations:

To battle this imminent problem, many non-profit organizations like eVidyaloka are now trying to improve the quality learning by bringing online education to rural classrooms. Their prime purpose is to bring about a knowledgeable and empowered rural India through the provision of quality education. The “each one, teach one” ideology encourages educated professionals to take time out of their schedules to deliver online lectures to students from rural areas.

The students thus not only get the quality education they lack, but they also get taught by teachers who are enthusiastic about teaching, which also goes a long way in boosting their morale. Online education enhances the learning outcome of students through learning modules that are focused on their classroom syllabus.

The language also poses a barrier when it comes to teaching in rural areas. NGOs, however, have overcome this barrier through an active tutor management program that focuses on taking on volunteers who are comfortable teaching in the local language, although it might not be their medium of instruction during their school days!

Government Initiatives:

The government has also played a significant role in bringing about an educational reform through online learning. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has recently launched three initiatives – Swayam, Swayam Prabha, and National Academic Depository, which aim to take the e-learning sector in India to the next level. At the inauguration of these initiatives, former President Pranab Mukherjee talked about how digital technology can enable excellent teachers to directly teach a large number of students who are not physically present in classes. The interactive learning experience will thus allow students in the remote parts of the country to benefit from lectures delivered by highly qualified teachers.

Swayam and Swayam Prabha are a rendition of digital classrooms that enable students from rural areas to connect either through the Internet or direct-to-home service and access educational content. Swayam offers courses through digital classes, and the study material is available online in the form of videos. Everything is available free of cost; however, students who want certificates will need to get registered.

India’s Chief Economic Advisor, Arvind Subramanian has also prepared a series of lectures on the Indian economy which can be accessed via Swayam and Swayam Prabha. The course structure of these online and digital classrooms will cover every aspect of education from class nine onwards, and will also include preparatory courses for competitive exams, including modules for preparation of IITs and IAS exams.

If not Internet, then DTH:

For the remote areas which still lack the facilities of a stable Internet connection, the Government will use alternative methods of communication. Swayam Prabha aims to tap into the potential utilization of Direct-to-Home (DTH) Service, and plans are already in place for setting up of a dish antenna that would give students access to 32 educational channels run by the HRD ministry. According to Dr. Pankaj Mittal, the Additional Secretary in UGC, these channels will broadcast new content of a duration of at least four hours, and this would be repeated five more times in a day, thus allowing students to view this content according to their convenience.

The online classrooms offered by government and non-profit organizations alike work towards one common goal: to provide equal quality of education to students in rural areas. These classroom programs are bridging the gap in quality education, and are thus empowering these students to do more with their lives. Thanks to these active initiatives, students in rural areas are also becoming aware of the variety of career paths they could follow, a privilege that they’d never had before.

Methods of teaching and learning processes make all the difference when it comes to education. These are also the main factors responsible for the stark contrast in the quality of education in the rural and urban areas. Online education can bridge this gap and bring to rural students the education they most rightly deserve.

Source: https://www.techgenyz.com/2018/09/03/online-education-for-remote-areas-in-india/

#Digitization in the Education Sector: Five Best Online Educational Classes in #India #edtech $BTRU.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:49 PM on Monday, August 27th, 2018
  • Students no longer need to sit inside a classroom to gain knowledge, as they can do the same using their smartphones, tablets and computers
  • ‘The Future of the world is in my classroom today,’ says a wise quote by Ivan Welton Fitzwater, an American educator. The statement   indeed is true; nonetheless, with the emergence of digitization, the way one views a classroom has massively changed. Students no longer need to sit inside a classroom to gain knowledge, as they can do the same using their smartphones, tablets and computers.

One of the biggest sectors in the world that has been affected by digitization is the educational sector. Therefore, educational institutions have adapted themselves in order to keep up with the current digital world. As students are increasingly accessing devices to gain knowledge, leading educational institutions are developing apps and launching channels on YouTube so as to provide classes to their students online.

Google Classroom, which was probably one of the first online educational suites to be created, recently received new tweaks and updates to make it more efficient. The new updates include a classwork page, a comment bank to provide teachers with feedback, and the ability to copy and reuse previous classwork with other classes.

Indian institutions too have taken the initiative to move towards the evolving digital platform and are coming out with apps that are revolutionizing the way we parse information. Online education could save students time, energy and money as all they need to do is attend classes from the comfort of their homes. Here are five popular online educational classes in India :

NIIT

This app brings skills training from NIIT classrooms directly to every digitally connected Indian for free. NIIT claims that it has made over 20 skill-based training programs in IT, banking and finance, retail and management available through this platform. “Learners across India will have access to the proven cloud campus learning enablers such as cloud courseware, cloud lab, online assessment and collaborative learning,” says NIIT. Anybody who owns smartphones, tablets or computers and have access to WiFi/2G/3G/4G connections may download the NIIT app and start the classes immediately.

BYJU’s

BYJU’s claims to have around 16 million registered school students on its platform. Along with offering learning programs in mathematics and science for students between classes  4th to 12th, BYJU’s also has test preparatory courses for competitive exams like CAT, NEET & JEE, IAS, GRE and GMAT. BYJU’s Founder CEO, Byju Raveendran himself takes classes for students along with other teachers. BYJU’s also has tips and tricks for IAS aspirants from IAS toppers.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy, which was started by educator Salman Khan in 2006, was one of the first educational academies to take the online initiative. The organization first started producing short lessons in the form of YouTube videos and now has an app as well. The Khan Academy also won the 2018 Google Play Best Social Impact award. Students can take mathematics classes with quizzes, and after each assessment, a personalized recommendation on exercises to focus on will be provided to students.

Coursera

Along with offering courses in mathematics to music for students, Coursera also offers advanced courses like computer science (programming, mobile, and web development), data science (machine learning, statistics, probability), business (accounting, marketing, and entrepreneurship), sciences (robotics, chemistry, nutrition and medicine), and more. One can also earn a certificate from Coursera but that has to be paid for.

Unacademy

If you want Kiran Bedi as your educator, then Unacademy could be the place for you. Unacademy claims to have some top educators including Kiran Bedi, India’s first woman IPS officer and now the Governor of Pondicherry, on board. They also provide content for provide content for major competitive examinations like UPSC, SSC CGL, CAT, GRE, GATE, CA, JEE, Pre-Medical, Railways Examinations, etc. Unacademy was co-founded by Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini, Hemesh Singh, and Sachin Gupta. Unacademy’s YouTube channel apparently has over 1.5 million subscribers.

Source: https://www.dqindia.com/digitization-indian-education-sector-five-best-online-educational-classes-india/

26 Ways #Blockchain Will Transform (OK, May Improve) Education $BTRU.ca $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:07 AM on Monday, August 20th, 2018

  • Blockchain is a public ledger that automatically records and verifies transactions.
  • The distributed ledger technology (DLT) powers Bitcoin, Ethereum and other virtual currencies (which have taken a beating this month).
  • Less publicized are all the ways DLT could transform many industries. Use cases for a transparent, verifiable register of transaction data are numerous because DLT operates through a decentralized platform making it fraud resistant.

With assistance from Educause and CB Insights, we’ve identified 26 ways that DLT could be deployed by school districts, networks, postsecondary institutions and community-based organizations to improve learning opportunities.

1. Transcripts. Academic credentials must be universally recognized and verifiable. In K-12 and postsecondary, verifying academic credentials remains largely a manual process (heavy on paper documentation and case-by-case checking). DLT solutions could streamline verification procedures and reduce fraudulent claims of unearned educational credits.

Learning Machine, a 10-year-old software startup, has collaborated with MIT Media Lab to launch of the Blockcerts toolset, which provides an open infrastructure for creating, issuing, viewing and verifying blockchain-based certificates.

Matt Pittinsky, CEO of transcript service Parchment, said there’s a lot of design decisions to work out before widespread use of DLT transcripts. He thinks blockchain will store locations to systems that that record comprehensive records–a balance between permanence and portability.

2. Badges. Specific skill assertions can be verified and communicated with a digital badge. Multiple badges can be assembled into an open badge passport that students can share with prospective employers.

Indorse is using blockchain to verify e-portfolios. Users upload claims with a link to verification and other users verify that claim.

3. Student records. Sony Global Education developed a educational platform in partnership with IBM that uses blockchain to secure and share student records.

Storing an comprehensive learner record on a distributed ledger may prove computationally intensive and, as a result, prohibitively expensive. As Pittinsky predicted, DLT may just be used as a directory rather than a data warehouse.

4. Identity. With the proliferation of learning apps and services, identity management is a big problem in education. Platforms like Blockstack and uPort help users carry their identity with around the internet. On Blockstack, users will access apps on decentralized networks and have data portability.

6. Infrastructure security. As schools add more security cameras and sensors, they need to protect their networks from hackers. Companies like Xage are using blockchain’s tamper-proof ledgers to sharing security data across device networks.

7. Ridesharing. Blockchain could inject new options into the rideshare oligopoly. With a distributed ledger, drivers and riders could create a more user-driven, value-oriented marketplace. DLT rideshare startup Arcade City allows drivers to establish their rates (taking a percentage of rider fares) with the blockchain logging all interactions. Arcade City appeals to professional drivers, who want to build up their own businesses than be controlled from a corporate headquarters.

School districts could negotiate with a group of screened Arcade City drivers for hard to serve aspects of pupil transportation (e.g., special needs, isolated students, work-based learning).

13.Cloud storage. As learners and education institutions store more data, DLT cloud storage could offer safer and potentially cheaper alternatives. Dubbed the “Airbnb for file storage,” Filecoin is a high-profile crypto project that rewards the hosting of files.

14. Energy management. For educational institutions with renewable energy sources, DLT could reduce the need for intermediaries. Brooklyn startup Transactive Grid enables decentralized energy generation schemes allowing entities to generate, buy, and sell energy to their neighbors.

15. Prepaid cards. Blockchains can help retailers offer secure gift cards and loyalty programs without a middleman. Gyft, an online platform for buying, sending, and redeeming gift cards, partnered with blockchain infrastructure provider Chain to run gift cards for thousands of small businesses on the blockchain, in a program called Gyft Block. Loyyal makes loyalty incentives easily exchangeable across different sectors.

Prepaid cards could be used by cities, schools, and families to purchase out of school learning experiences (e.g., an LRNG card) and associated transportation (#7).

16. Smart contracts. DLT can be used to automatically execute agreements once a set of specified conditions are met. These “smart contracts” have the potential to reduce paperwork in many sector including education.

Woolf University, formed by Oxford professors, will use DLT to execute smart contracts. A series of student and teacher “check-ins” are key to executing a series of smart contracts that validate attendance and assignment completion. A check-in could be a simple as clicking a button on a phone app but it executes a smart contract that pays the teacher and provides micro-credits to the student.

DLT could facilitate distributed learning skemes. A state or institution could fund a student’s account using blockchain-based smart contracts and and provide all the funding up-front. The smart contracts would release it when certain criteria are met. (There’s obviously a lot of policy to figure out: desirable experiences and skill verifications, eligible providers, terms and conditions, etc.)

17. Learning marketplace. The core competency of DLT is eliminating the middleman. It will be deployed to create various learning marketplaces from test prep to surfing school.

TeachMePlease is Russian pilot on the Disciplina platform where teachers and students come together. It helps students find and pay for courses, registered by educational organizations or teachers. Woolf (#16) is an example of a new higher ed marketplace.

18. Records management. DLT could reduce paper-based processes, minimize fraud, and increase accountability between authorities and those they serve. An early example, the Delaware Blockchain Initiative, aims to create an appropriate legal infrastructure for distributed ledger shares, to increase efficiency and speed of incorporation services. Illinois, Vermont, and other states have since announced similar initiatives. Startups are assisting in the effort as well: in Eastern Europe, the BitFury Group is currently working with the Georgian government to secure and track government records.

19. Retail. DLT could securely connect buyers and sellers in marketplaces.For example,  OpenBazaar operates as an open-source, peer-to-peer network that connects buyers and sellers without a middleman. Customers purchase goods using any of 50 cryptocurrencies and sellers are paid in Bitcoin.

DLT could be used to power school stores and student businesses. In some cases, a global network would be attractive, but in others, a permissioned (private) ledger could limit the scope of a school economy.

20. Charity. For charitable donations, DLT provides the ability to precisely track donations and, in some cases, impact. For example, GiveTrack, from the BitGive Foundation, is a blockchain-based donation platform that provides the ability to transfer, track, and provide a permanent record of charitable financial transactions across the globe.

Donors to schools and NGOs may find accountability and transparency attractive.

21. Human resources. Conducting background checks and verifying employment histories can be time-consuming, highly manual tasks for HR professionals. If employment and criminal records were stored in DLT, HR professionals could streamline the vetting process and move hiring processes forward more quickly.

Chronobank is focused on improving short-term recruitment for on-demand jobs (e.g., cleaning, warehousing, e-commerce). The startup aims to use blockchain to make it easier for individuals to find work on the fly and be rewarded for their labor through a decentralized framework via cryptocurrency, without the involvement of traditional financial institutions.

Schools could use similar capabilities in substitute and driver management and for a marketplace of afterschool and summer activities.

22. Governance. The benefits of using blockchain for smart contracts and verifiable transactions can also be applied toward making business accounting more transparent. The Boardroom app, for example, provides a governance framework and app enabling companies to manage smart contracts on the public and permissioned Ethereum blockchains.

The app provides an administrative system for organizations to ensure smart contracts are executed according to rules encoded on the blockchain (or to update the rules themselves). Boards can also use the app for shareholder voting by proxy and collaborative proposal management.

23. Libraries. DLT could help libraries expand their services by building an enhanced metadata archive, developing a protocol for supporting community-based collections, and facilitating more effective management of digital rights. San Jose State’s School of Information received a $100K grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to fund a year-long project exploring the potential of blockchain technology for information services.

24. Publishing. Blockchain could have multiple applications in the publishing industry, from breaking into the industry to rights management to piracy. New platforms are emerging to level the playing field for writers and encourage collaboration among authors, editors, translators, and publishers. Educators, students, and NGOs may appreciate the benefits of expanded publishing options.

Authorship allows writers to publish their work on the platform. Readers can purchase the books from the platform using Authorship Tokens (ATS), an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency, and writers get 90% of royalties in ATS. Authors own the copyright to their work, so they have the freedom to publish and distribute it elsewhere.

PageMajik is a workflow management system designed to streamline the publishing process. The system provides a secure, centralized catalog of all files, which can be easily accessed by teams of writers, editors, and publishers. Each person’s roles, rights, and duties can be specified before they actually start using the platform to minimize errors. PageMajik is in the process of adding blockchain technology to the next version of its workflow system.

25. Public assistance. Blockchain could help streamline public assistance system for families and students. The UK began working with startup GovCoin Systems in 2016 to conduct trials for developing a blockchain-based solution for welfare payments. GovCoin divides money into separate stashes for different expenses. Recipients gain access to their benefits which are paid in cryptocurrency via a mobile app.

26. Bonds. The World Bank is using blockchain to sell a bond. Moving the process to the blockchain could cut costs and speed up trading for both bond issuers and investors. School districts could benefit from faster and cheaper bond sales.

Writing for Educause, David McArthur outlines the limitations and challenges of DLT solutions in education. He also lays out the benefits Permissioned Distributed Ledgers rather than public ledger. These smaller private networks could enhance security and achieve faster and cheaper transactions consensus.

“When it comes to educational innovation, blockchains and ledgers are likely to lead to evolutionary gains, rather than revolutionary reforms,” concludes McArthur.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanderark/2018/08/20/26-ways-blockchain-will-transform-ok-may-improve-education/#4f70a2b84ac9

Zebi Launches a #Blockchain Solution for #Education in #India $BTRU.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:52 AM on Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

By Cait Etherington August 14, 2018

  • India is already home to one of the fastest growing edtech markets in the world.
  • A recent announcement by Zebi, a Hyderabad-based blockchain startup, suggests that it may also be well positioned to become a leader in blockchain solutions for education.
  • With Zebi EduChain, Zebi plans to leverage blockchain technology to help educational institutions more effectively manage student records.

India’s Edtech Scene

A recent study by Google and KPMG predicts that India’s online education market will grow to USD 1.96 billion and around 9.6 million users by 2021 from USD 247 million and around 1.6 million users in 2016. The study, “Online Education in India: 2021,” further predicts that while reskilling is currently the largest edtech market in India, by 2021, both the K-12 and test prep markets will dominate. If potential for growth in India is huge, it has much to do with the region’s size. India has an estimated 260 million students enrolled in more than 1.5 million schools and 39,000 colleges and the region’s number of students and institutions is constantly growing. Currently, mobile learning is especially popular in India, which is home to approximately 290 million smartphone users and is expected to add another 180 million users by 2021. However, traditional approaches to online and mobile learning aren’t the only thing making headlines in India’s edtech scene. As Zebi’s early August announcement reveals, at least one Indian tech startup is now exploring the potential of adopting blockchain solutions for education.

Adopting Blockchain for Education

Blockchain enables digital information to be distributed but not copied. Simply put, blockchain technology has a fundamentally different foundation than traditional digital technologies because it rests upon a “distributed database” to which no single person has full access or control. Most people still associate blockchain with cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, but the technology offers a lot more than the ability to engage in financial transactions without the aid of banks.

Blockchain technology can also enable people to sign contracts and verify documents without relying on traditional third parties, and it is at the level of records management that blockchain is expected to have its greatest impacts on education. For example, colleges and universities currently spend thousands of dollars each year simply collecting, issuing, and verifying student transcripts. But what if student records could be easily verified and shared across institutions using blockchain technology instead? This is precisely the sort of solution that Zebi hopes to offer with the launch of Zebi EduChain.

Zebi’s Blockchain Solution

Zebi EduChain won’t be the first blockchain solution for education, but it will be the first one released in India. The solution is designed to offer a secure and tamper-proof way to manage educational records, and in a country with 260 million students, managing educational records is no small task. Among other things Zebi EduChain will help educational institutions assess the authenticity of candidate’s school and college certificates, which is currently a major challenge across India where there are multiple school systems operating in multiple languages. This is also no doubt why at least one large Indian institution, the International Institute of Information Technology in Basara, has already adopted Zebi’s technology.

In a news release issued last week, Babu Munagala, Zebi’s Founder and CEO, emphasized, “The issue of fake certificates is a big menace. It is quite tough for recruiters, higher educational institutions and other stakeholders to check the authenticity of a certificate. Blockchain can address this problem once and for all.” Babu also explained, “The educational institution that wants to join the platform will act as a node with full control on the data they own. They will receive requests from stakeholders to verify any certificate issued by them. They will vet the request and give an answer, checking their database. This simplifies the process in a most secure way.”

Whether or not blockchain technology eventually replaces registrar’s offices on college and university campuses is yet to be seen, but with solutions such as Zebi EduChain, it seems likely that how educational records are managed both within and across institutions is about to undergo a major overhaul.

Source: https://news.elearninginside.com/zebi-launches-a-blockchain-solution-for-education-in-india/

betterU Education Corporation $BTRU.ca Adds New Education Partners to Platform Now Totalling More Than 20,000 Courses $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:51 AM on Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

Betteru large

  • Announced the addition of many new education partnerships who have recently executed on agreements to join betterU’s platform in an effort to expand the company’s offering now reaching more than 20,000 courses

OTTAWA, Aug. 15, 2018 — betterU Education Corp. (the “Company” or “betterU”) is pleased to announce the addition of many new education partnerships who have recently executed on agreements to join betterU’s platform in an effort to expand the company’s offering now reaching more than 20,000 courses.

betterU’s vision for India is to provide access to all levels of education, domains of learning, and affordability with different methods of delivery for programs from pre-school, to KG-12, exam preparation, higher education, skills development, job preparation, industry specific and more. In order to provide education for all, betterU needs the breadth and depth of required content from global educators in order to support the hundreds of millions of potential learners.

FutureLearn is an example of yet another quality educator that has partnered with betterU in India. Owned by Open University, they will provide betterU’s learners with access to 100s of their education partners from around the world including many of the best UK and international universities, as well as institutions with a huge archive of cultural and educational material, such as the British Council, the British Library, the British Museum, and the National Film and Television School. They work with a range of internationally renowned organisations – from professional bodies such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), to businesses like the BBC and Marks & Spencer, to the UK Government. Offering more than 200 courses, programs and degrees, FutureLearn will boost the betterU offering with their flexible learning style to build professional credentials, achieve graduate certificates, diplomas or master’s degrees and boost learners’ employability. betterU fully expects to add to their existing and impressive learner enrollment of 8,116,538 students. “We are very excited to welcome FutureLearn to our platform — we share the same passion to make education accessible to everyone. As the leading European education provider, their wide range and quality selection of courses will be attractive to the Indian learner,” comments Stefan Strub, betterU Director of Europe.

Since the last news release on July 18th, other new partners expanding betterU’s course and category offering also include: ByDegrees, eduCBA, John Academy, Open Colleges, PTT, Simplilearn, and Simpliv.

  • ByDegrees changes the way you learn communication, business and finance with “burst” learning in a social-media friendly way.
  • eduCBA specialises in providing real-world skills in Finance, Technology, Data, Design and Business.
  • John Academy offers certification and accreditation in a number of areas of specialty.
  • Open College is an existing partner, now offering more diploma courses.
  • PTT adds the Technical category to betterU’s offering with specialisation in telecommunications.
  • Simplilearn is a global provider with a significant presence in India and recognized as the official provider of certification in Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Project Management, Digital Marketing, and Data Science among others.
  • Simpliv provides learning to business professionals in a range of industries.

betterU has many new and exciting education and employment partnerships, technology development and opportunities in the pipeline. Stay tuned for more in the months to come.

About betterU

betterU, a global education to employment platform, aims to provide access to quality education from around the world to foster growth and opportunity to those who want to better their lives. The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated education-to-employment ecosystem. betterU’s offerings can be categorized into several broad functions: to compliment school programs with flexible KG-12 programs preparing children for next stage of education, to provide access to global educational opportunities from leading educators, to foster an exceptional educational environment by providing befitting skills that lead to a better career, to bridge the gap between one’s existing education and prospective job requirement by training them and lastly, to connect the end user to various job opportunities.

www.betterU.ca and www.betterU.in

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements and information, which may involve risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, competitive developments, risks associated with betterU’s growth, the state of the financial markets, regulatory risks and other factors. There can be no assurance or guarantees that any statements of forward-looking information contained in this release will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral statements containing forward-looking information are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, betterU disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers should not place undue reliance on any statements of forward-looking information that speak only as of the date of this release. Further information on betterU’s public filings, including their most recent audited consolidated financial statements, are available at www.sedar.com.

For further information, please visit  https://ir.betteru.ca/investor-overview/press-releases/.

On behalf of the Board of Director,
better Education Corp.
Brad Loiselle, CEO

For further information:

Investor Relations
1-613-695-4100 Ext. 233
Email: [email protected]

betterU Education Corporation $BTRU.ca Adds 650+ New Listings to Their Marketplace $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:20 AM on Friday, July 20th, 2018

Betteru large

  • Announced the addition of many new educators to their global education platform adding more than 650 new offerings
  • New partners come from the United States and India and include Lawskills, WintellectNOW, TutorPod, IL&FS, Playablo, Increed and Nrityanjali

OTTAWA, July 20, 2018 — betterU Education Corp. (TSX-V:BTRU) (FRANKFURT:5OGA) (the “Company” or “betterU”) is pleased to announce the addition of many new educators to their global education platform adding more than 650 new offerings. The new partners come from the United States and India and include Lawskills, WintellectNOW, TutorPod, IL&FS, Playablo, Increed and Nrityanjali.

These offerings represent new categories and methods of learning for betterU’s platform, including gamified and interactive learning to reach an even wider audience:

  • Lawskills offers betterU’s first Indian law courses. Courses are currently offered in English and hope to expand to Hindi and other dialects by year end.
  • WintellectNOW is a certified Microsoft Training Partner and will offer IT courses developed and written by Microsoft’s top trainers.
  • TutorPod, created by former NASA scientist Dr Arvind Gambheer, offers tutoring and exam prep through virtual instructor-led sessions.
  • IL&FS offers both Englishbolo and Geneo and provides an interactive English-language speaking skills program and interactive textbooks for science, maths, and English for CBSE 8 –10 respectively.
  • Playablo offers award-winning gamified learning for English and maths for CBSE and ICSE boards.
  • Increed (represented by DiViz) is a B2B learning partner providing custom content for companies looking to upskill their talent.
  • Nrityanjali is a B2B learning partner providing corporate training solutions in business, management, education and training.

“These new partnerships represent another significant step towards betterU’s goal of offering all levels of education across all industries to anyone, anywhere. Our learners have different learning styles, and our new gamified and interactive learning partners will help them better engage with their education,” said Kate O’Neil, Director of Partnership Implementation.

betterU continues to expand their partner acquisition teams around the world with offices in Canada, India, Switzerland and Australia. With the goal of educating global leaders about the opportunity for working together for the collective good, the Company has set its targets on countries with governments focused on supporting India.

About betterU
betterU, a global education-to-employment platform, aims to provide access to quality education from around the world to foster growth and opportunity to those who want to better their lives. The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated education-to-employment ecosystem. betterU’s offerings can be categorized into several broad functions: to complement school programs with flexible KG-12 programs preparing children for next stage of education, to provide access to global educational opportunities from leading educators, to foster an exceptional educational environment by providing befitting skills that lead to a better career, to bridge the gap between one’s existing education and prospective job requirement by training them and lastly, to connect the end user to various job opportunities.

www.betterU.ca and www.betterU.in

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements and information, which may involve risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, competitive developments, risks associated with betterU’s growth, the state of the financial markets, regulatory risks and other factors. There can be no assurance or guarantees that any statements of forward-looking information contained in this release will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral statements containing forward-looking information are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, betterU disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers should not place undue reliance on any statements of forward-looking information that speak only as of the date of this release. Further information on betterU’s public filings, including their most recent audited consolidated financial statements, are available at www.sedar.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
betterU Education Corp.
Brad Loiselle, CEO

CONTACT INFORMATION

Investor Relations
1-613-695-4100
Email: [email protected]

E-Learning Market Innovation Trends and Current Business Trends by 2024 $BTRU.ca $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:55 AM on Thursday, July 19th, 2018

 

 

 

  • The India e-learning market is currently in its infancy stage and is expected to grow at rapid pace. Increasing government initiatives such as Digital India is expected to bode well for the industry
  • With increasing robustness of digital infrastructure and changing face of education in the country, the industry will play a vital role in satisfying the education and skill-based needs of the country

Brazil eLearning market is expected to gain significant momentum, owing to increasing demand for online English courses in the country. The local population needs to expand their English knowledge to secure a job, as English is perceived as a vital element in securing a job in the country. Studying the language through online courses for several students is of interest owing to the growing need to save money & time and to study at a suitable time, which is making these courses in Brazil an attractive option. The overall demand for English language tutoring is expected to increase the number of people seeking professional & online help and, in turn, fuel the regional demand over the forecast timespan.E-learning services and products have expanded significantly in the recent years. Users are getting increasingly benefitted by the engaging, animated, and interactive tools that provide improved effectiveness and ease of access. With growing use of mobile devices, the users are increasingly getting attracted to these solution, thus aiding the e-learning market growth over the forecast timespan.

Rapid digitization and advancements in technology infrastructure is encouraging the companies to implement corporate e-learning techniques in their organizations. Proliferation of these techniques through smartphones & tablets and adoption of BYOD concept is expected to propel corporate e-learning market growth. However, lack of peer to peer interaction is expected to be one of the major challenges to the industry. These courses cannot provide group breakout sessions or other types of group work with peers or instructors. Students perceive this as restriction in gaining insights from the professors, thus hindering the eLearning market growth.

The India e-learning market is currently in its infancy stage and is expected to grow at rapid pace. Increasing government initiatives such as Digital India is expected to bode well for the industry. With increasing robustness of digital infrastructure and changing face of education in the country, the industry will play a vital role in satisfying the education and skill-based needs of the country.

Global E-Learning Market Size, By Application, 2016 and 2024 (USD Billion)

Some of the key participants in the eLearning market include Desire2Learn, Cornerstone, Intuition Publishing, Meridian Knowledge Solutions, Skillsoft, SAP SE, and Saba Software. The industry is characterized by presence of large number of regional players. The vendors continually invest in new product development to gain competitive advantage. For instance, in 2016, Desire2Learn Corporation announced the launch of Strategic Nonvisual Access Partnership with the National Federation of the Blinds (NFB).

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

Source: https://thebusinesstactics.com/284076/e-learning-market-innovation-trends-and-current-business-trends-by-2024/

Education 2020: Changing The #Education System In #India $BTRU.ca #Edtech $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:12 AM on Tuesday, July 17th, 2018
  • Online Education in India: 2021’, a comprehensive report prepared by KPMG in India and Google points out that the online education market in India is slated to witness an eight-fold growth by 2021
  • There is already a rise in the number of e-learning companies offering classroom supplement solutions and solutions for competitive examinations
  • Coming years will witness a further rise

The K—12 education sector has undergone an overhaul in the last decade. Although, technology has made inroads into the sector with the promise of actively engaging students in the learning process, thereby, improving learning outcomes and reducing teachers’ repetitive tasks, its huge potential has not been fully realised yet.

Students need to have more agency in their learning process. Teachers are still largely the sole disseminators of knowledge. But with technology intervention, the scenario could undergo a huge transformation and the teacher would become more of a facilitator in the entire teaching-learning gamut.

The increasing role of technology 

Online learning

Online Education in India: 2021’, a comprehensive report prepared by KPMG in India and Google points out that the online education market in India is slated to witness an eight-fold growth by 2021. There is already a rise in the number of e-learning companies offering classroom supplement solutions and solutions for competitive examinations.  And the coming years will witness a further rise.

  • Anytime, anywhere learning

This trend allows students to learn anytime from anywhere ensuring learning is no longer limited to the four walls of a classroom. Students can learn from the comforts of their home or while strolling in the park. This allows learners to explore their interests more. For instance, in the conventional scenario, a learner can approach the teacher only during school hours to clarify any doubts. However, many online learning platforms have doubt clarification sessions that allow students to clarify their doubts instantly.

  • Peer learning

Online learning opens the door for student collaboration. In a classroom, teachers are often pressed for time and there are not many opportunities for students to learn from one another. However, online learning platforms have a dedicated learning community where students can help each other learn. They can collaborate on projects, clarify each other’s doubts or discuss projects. This helps them gain a fresh perspective on topics and learn concepts anew.

Making learning more engaging

One of the reasons technological intervention in the K-12 sector is successful is because of its great potential to make educational content engaging and interesting. Thanks to 2D and 3D technology, digital content has made itself a useful resource for both students and teachers. Theory in itself is not enough to make students understand concepts. Digital content due to its interactive nature is easy to grasp. Students are able to understand and retain concepts better. In the near future, we would see a proliferation of content using technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR).

Artificial Intelligence

Compared to other sectors like health and infrastructure, technology has been a late entrant in the education sector due to which the impact of artificial intelligence is also be bound to be delayed. But it has immense potential to improve the learning outcomes in the education sector.

Adaptive learning – This is a unique learning solution powered by artificial intelligence, where the learning path is personalised for each learner based on interactions with learners.  It suggests a series of assessments and study materials, to each learner to mitigate his/her learning gaps and meet their individual learning objectives.  This personalised way of learning enables learners to study at their own pace and as per their own ability. Thus, a personalised learning experience engages students effectively in their own learning.

Besides the advent of technology, the education sector has also witnessed a change in the approach towards teaching and learning in the last decade.

Focus away rote learning to building 21st century skills

Not everything is bad about rote learning, but it should not be an end in itself. Learning should focus on preparing students for their professional life. In the coming years, we will see the emergence of a curriculum that will emphasize on hands-on activities, experiential learning and more. The emphasis will not just be on acquiring skills and knowledge but also on the process of learning which will be more student-centric.

Importance of coding 

Coding involves writing programs for the creation of computer software, websites and apps. Realizing the indispensable nature of coding in today’s tech-savvy world, the concept is introduced right at the kindergarten level in many countries. . Although, the children are not taught traditional programming languages, they are introduced to fundamental programming concepts, such as sequencing, loops and conditionals, through exciting activities. Besides developing programming skills, coding also helps students develop 21st century skills – creativity, collaboration, communication and critical-thinking.

Alleviating the burden on teachers 

Technology can be a great teaching ally too. The existing digital content helps teachers engage the classroom effectively. In the coming years, we will see a rise in the incorporation of Learning Management System (LMS) into the K-12 sector. LMS aids in planning and delivering education course and also tracking its delivery. An LMS will help a teacher plan the curriculum in-depth and also track the learning progress. The detailed reports will inform teachers about the deviations encountered in the well-defined learning path so that action can be taken to mitigate these deviations.

There has been a rise in e-learning content. However, a major part of the available content is ineffective in engaging students and improving learning outcomes. Thus, parameters to evaluate content will have to be set. The role of government bodies is paramount in promoting such initiatives.

Thus it can be inferred that in the next few years, the k-12 sector will witness improved learning outcomes. It will be able to provide an environment conducive to increased student engagement and improved teacher performance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors’ and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house. Unless otherwise noted, the author is writing in his/her personal capacity. They are not intended and should not be thought to represent official ideas, attitudes, or policies of any agency or institution.

Source: http://www.businessworld.in/article/Education-2020-Changing-The-Education-System-In-India/14-07-2018-154491/

#Edtech firm #Unacademy raises $21 million from #Sequoia #SAIF #Nexus and others $BTRU.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:54 PM on Monday, July 16th, 2018
  • Online education start-up Unacademy on Monday said it has raised $21 million in a series C funding round from Sequoia India, SAIF Partners, Nexus Venture Partners and other existing investors at a valuation of more than $100 million

Unacademy plans to utilize the capital to get 10,000 educators on board monthly (from the present 3,000), grow its team and invest heavily in technology

Roman Saini (left), Gaurav Munjal (centre), Hemesh Singh. Unacademy raised $11.5 million in September 2017, and it has raised $38.6 million cumulatively till date.

New Delhi: Online education start-up Unacademy on Monday said it has raised $21 million in a series C funding round from Sequoia India, SAIF Partners, Nexus Venture Partners and other existing investors at a valuation of more than $100 million.

Blume Ventures also participated in this round.

Some $2-3 million has come in the form of secondary investment in which some angel investors exited the company, Unacademy co-founder and chief executive officer Gaurav Munjal said in a telephonic conversation.

Unacademy (Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt. Ltd) plans to utilize the capital to get 10,000 educators on board monthly (from the present 3,000), grow its team and invest heavily in technology.

The company also aims to use the funds raised to strengthen its brand.

The new investment comes after the education technology start-up raised $11.5 million from Sequoia Capital and SAIF Partners in September last year.

The platform, which allows educators to create multimedia content for free viewing by users, has raised $38.6 million cumulatively till date.

“Sequoia India is thrilled to lead the new round in Unacademy, which is already making a big impact in India’s online learning space,” said Shailendra Singh, managing director, Sequoia Capital (India) Singapore.

Bengaluru-based Unacademy is one of the fastest-growing education technology start-ups in the country.

The company saw 40 million views for its courses last month, along with 200,000 daily active users, Unacademy said.

The company claims to have grown six times in terms of monthly revenue since October last year, which it attributed to the paid course, ‘Plus’ on its platform. The ‘Plus’ courses allow users to engage in live video classes, private discussion forums along with personal interactions.

Unacademy is focusing primarily on four categories of competitive examinations—IIT JEE, NEET, GATE and banking examinations.

“Since we launched the paid Plus courses, we plan to improve the live-stream technology there. And also building the brand,” said Munjal, who added that the company will introduce a marketing campaign that will include television ads in the next few months.

Mint had reported in February that the education content company was in talks to raise up to $35 million from new and existing investors, and was planning to expand its international footprint.

The company will use the fresh funds to expand its presence in Indonesia, where it has more than 30 tutors, Munjal added.

However, it has halted its pilot project in Brazil.

Unacademy, which was launched as a YouTube channel in 2010 by Munjal, Roman Saini, Hemesh Singh and Sachin Gupta, offers tutors from various domains an opportunity to create video courses that are published on the Unacademy app and website.

Munjal and Singh previously founded roommate discovery start-up Flatchat, which was eventually sold to CommonFloor in 2014.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/Companies/4FYqNtsrFNBCXX5zSG9DMK/Edtech-firm-Unacademy-raises-21-million-from-Sequoia-SAIF.html