16 July 2024

Sophos, a British cybersecurity firm, has released a study conducted with 600 IT and cybersecurity leaders in educational institutions, highlighting the ongoing risks and financial impacts of ransomware attacks.

Incidence drops, but sector remains vulnerable

The study found that 63% of lower education institutions and 66% of higher education institutions experienced ransomware attacks in the past year. These figures represent a notable decrease from the 80% and 79% reported in 2023 for lower and higher education, respectively, suggesting increased awareness and defensive measures against cybersecurity threats. Despite the decrease, the attack rates in the education sector remain higher than the global cross-sector average of 59%.

Backup compromises remain a critical vulnerability

Moreover, 95% of educational institutions hit by ransomware reported attempts by cybercriminals to compromise their backups. Of these, 71% were successful, making it the second-highest rate of successful backup compromise across all sectors, following the energy, oil/gas, and utilities sectors. This high success rate highlights a critical vulnerability in backup security within educational institutions.

Soaring financial costs of ransomware recovery

Financially, the impact of ransomware attacks on educational institutions has been significant. The mean cost of recovery for lower education institutions in 2024 was USD 3.76 million, more than double the USD 1.59 million reported in 2023. For higher education institutions, the mean recovery cost was USD 4.02 million, nearly four times higher than the USD 1.06 million reported in 2023. These rising costs underscore the substantial financial burden ransomware attacks impose on the education sector.

Widespread impact on devices

The extent of ransomware’s impact is also concerning, with an average of 52% of computers in lower education and 50% in higher education being affected by these attacks. These figures are slightly above the cross-sector average of 49%, indicating that educational institutions remain particularly vulnerable to widespread disruptions from ransomware.

Data restoration: ransom payments and backup use increase

In terms of data restoration, the study revealed that 62% of lower education institutions paid the ransom to retrieve encrypted data, while 75% used backups to restore data. For higher education, 67% paid the ransom, and 78% utilised backups for data restoration. Higher education institutions ranked second-highest in both the propensity to use backups for data restoration and the propensity to pay ransom, while lower education institutions ranked third in ransom payment. This suggests a significant reliance on both ransom payments and backup systems to recover from ransomware attacks.

This underscores the ongoing vulnerability of educational institutions to ransomware attacks, despite improvements in cybersecurity measures. The financial burden and the high success rate of backup compromises highlight the need for continued vigilance and enhanced security protocols in the education sector.

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5 July 2024

Nord Anglia Education, a global international education group with 88 schools worldwide, has released its latest EdTech analysis, revealing unprecedented levels of engagement on its online learning platforms during the first half of 2024.

Data shows a significant rise in activity, with Global Campus, Nord Anglia’s online learning platform, recording 913,379 views and 22,752 posts. This represents a 79% increase in views and a 33% increase in posts compared to the same period in 2023.

Global Campus serves as a hub for students to participate in extracurricular programs and collaborate with peers globally. Activities available on the platform range from art competitions to challenges hosted by MIT and Juilliard, as well as language exchanges and social impact initiatives.

Anita Citeroni, Nord Anglia’s Programme Manager for Global Campus, highlighted the importance of engaging educational content. “The growth we’ve recorded in 2024 underscores the extent to which online learning is now second nature for students. The critical part to building strong engagement is in creating educational content that encourages curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.”

The platform is not just for students; Nord Anglia’s 16,000+ staff and teachers also benefit from online resources through Nord Anglia University (NAU). The platform supports professional development and peer engagement across the organisation. In the first half of 2024, NAU usage increased by 17% compared to the same period last year.

Simon Kear, Assistant Director of Online Learning at Nord Anglia, attributed the growth to the quality of user-generated content and the practical nature of the learning materials. “The significant engagement we saw at the start of the academic year has continued, and we’re now at record levels. A major driver is our focus on our world-class teachers—who are subject-matter-experts—sharing user-generated content and bitesize learning. Nord Anglia teachers love this because the learning is fit for purpose, highly relevant to their roles, and presented in a way that suits their busy teaching schedules.”

The surge in online engagement underscores the evolving landscape of education, where digital platforms play a crucial role in enhancing learning experiences for students and educators alike. ​

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31 May 2024

Nord Anglia Education has unveiled significant insights on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and metacognitive strategies within their educational institutions, featured in their latest global publication, INSIGHTS.

At Nord Anglia’s British International School in Kuala Lumpur, AI technology has been harnessed to create an AI-powered teaching assistant. This assistant personalises learning, guides students through content exploration, and deepens understanding through interactive activities. Students define the topics and course specifications, and the AI facilitates a conversational exploration of the content, allowing for real-time questions and answers. Dr. Bruce Geddes, Deputy Head of Secondary at the school, emphasised AI’s transformative potential, stating, “AI represents the biggest opportunity we’ve had in our lifetimes, for many, many spheres, but particularly in education.”

In New York, Avenues: The World School integrates AI into student projects, such as using ChatGPT for app development. Students generate most of the coding through AI, then review and refine it. Lia Muschellack, Director of Technology at the school, highlighted the efficiency gained, noting that “hours of manual work [is saved] by leveraging the appropriate tool in an academically appropriate way.” Additionally, the school’s generative AI chatbot, Savvy, powered by open AI technology since 2019, provides information, answers queries, and engages in diverse discussions.

Muschellack stressed the importance of AI familiarity for students, explaining, “We understand that our students will be actively leveraging these tools throughout their academic and professional pathways, so we want to make sure they not only understand the potentials and limitations but that they have tinkered and truly experienced them.”

Nord Anglia Education is also advancing its approach to metacognition, helping teachers introduce metacognitive strategies into classrooms. The organisation has developed a metacognitive framework of six “Learner Ambitions” aimed at fostering critical, creative, committed, and curious learners who work compassionately and collaboratively. This framework seeks to develop student agency, boost academic performance, and cultivate future skills desired by employers. Initially, this approach is being applied across 27 Nord Anglia schools globally, with its impact to be evaluated in an independent research partnership with Boston College, reporting in 2025.

In exploring personalised goals and thinking routines, Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong implements the “Step In, Step Out, Step Back” routine to nurture empathy and understanding in studies. Raquel Thomson, Deputy Head of Primary, highlighted the significance of asking profound questions, stating, “Thinking strategies like this stay with students and serve a purpose whatever they do in their lives, whether they choose to be a scientist or a teacher or to go into business.”

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EDUtech caught up with one of our returning association partners REFO at EDUtech Asia 2023. Founder and Managing Director, Pepita Gunawan shares her thoughts on the event and why REFO delegations return every year.

Speaking on the recent issues in the education landscape, Pepita emphasises the significance of aligning technology, particularly AI, with desired student skills. She highlights the importance of filtering technology outcomes in line with students’ values and beliefs. Pepita also stresses that educational leaders must embrace technology, acknowledging it as a crucial part of modern education.

Speaker – Pepita Gunawan, Founder and Managing Director, REFO Indonesia

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Meet Camellia, an innovative educator and Vice Principal at Vinschool, Vietnam’s largest education network. In this insightful interview, she shares experiences from a diverse panel discussion on personalised education at EDUtech Asia 2023, emphasising the importance of collaboration and diverse ideas.

Camellia speaks on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in education, addressing challenges like digital literacy and data privacy. Looking ahead, she underscores the need for a mindful approach to emerging technologies, focusing on sustainability and the well-being of educators and students in this rapidly changing educational landscape.

Speaker – Camellia Dang, Vice Principal, Vinschool, Vietnam

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Discover how SIS, an American school, cultivates digital citizenship through diverse stages, emphasizing safe use and leveraging technology for learning. Head of School James Gerhard gives us some top tips on fostering ethical decision-making online, involving parents, and ensuring teacher participation. He also emphasises on the need to involve all stakeholders in a school’s digital transformation journey, ensuring they are on board and empowered.

Speaker – James Gerhard, Head of School, Seoul International School, South Korea

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In this engaging interview, Sangita Singh, the Head of IT and Digital Learning Lead at Global Indian International School Smart Campus, shares her two-decade journey dedicated to fostering inclusive learning environments and promoting digital education.

She discusses the imperative nature of integrating technology into education and highlights her school’s commitment to sustainable development goals. Sangita emphasises the role of IT professionals in enhancing the teaching and learning experience, the potential of AI in education, and her cyber safety program for students.

Speaker – Sangitaa Singh, Head of Department, Information Technology, Global Indian International School Singapore

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Making learning personal, reimagining learning design and empowering educators with data. These are just a few of the transformations happening in the education and EdTech landscape. Google for Education’s global report draws from 24 different countries, working with 94 educational experts.

Speaker – Bernadette Nacario, Country Director, Google Philippines

The post Key trends driving the future of education first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

School of Humanity is an online high school, offering an interdisciplinary curriculum and taking a different approach to teaching and learning. Founder, Raya Bidashahri shares more about this innovative model and others that are emerging. Understand how today’s schools can tap into that spirit of innovation and apply first principles to existing practices to deliver a transformed student experience.

Speaker – Raya Bidashahri, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, School of Humanity

The post Reinventing schools: A practical vision first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

The pandemic led to accelerated technology adoption in the education sector across the globe, India being no exception to it. We have already witnessed the impact that a school can have by adopting digital tools.

Speaker – Bani Paintal Dhawan, Head of Education, India and South Asia, Google Cloud India Pvt Ltd.

The post Redefining learning – Helping schools become digital-first through technology first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

Looking beyond the pandemic, how schools are leveraging on the benefits of online education. These schools share how they are consolidating after the pandemic and building out their classrooms of the future.

Moderator – Alissa Kordprom, High School Principal, Korea International School, Jeju Campus
Panellists – Francis Sherwood, Head, Middle School, Ramkhamhaeng Advent International School; Ali Bourke, Deputy Head of School, Tara Pattana International School; Kevin Mauritson, Executive Director, Saint John Mary International School

The post Collaborating with all stakeholders to design the future of education first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

Digital transformation of this scale involves a number of moving parts that require careful attention. Whilst it’s forward-looking to have tech-enabled teaching and learning, what other areas need addressing? Digital citizenship, safeguarding, and the user experience are just some of the aspects.

Speakers – John Cork, Ed Tech Head, King Mongkut’s International Demonstration School; Saiju Mammen, Head of Information Technology, Wellington International College Bangkok

The post From digital citizenship to infrastructure: Designing virtual classrooms first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

Hear how these two schools are keeping teachers motivated and engaged in CPD. Understand how partnerships can help support this community of learning and unlock opportunities from a wide range of sources.

Speakers – Tim Maitland, Head of School, The New Zealand School; Alexandre Trespach Nenes, Principal, Sinarmas World Academy

The post Teacher professional development for the digital age first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

Where do we go from here? How are schools in Indonesia continuing their digital journey as we return to physical classrooms? This panel of school leaders discuss their future plans, strategic investments they are making to use technology as effectively as possible and what sort of lesson delivery is in the works.

Moderator – Tatiana Aline Mohler, Public Relations Officer, Merlion School
Panellists – Laksmi Mayesti Wijanyanti, Principal, Sekolah Murid Merdeka; Ana Araneta Balboa, Head of School, The Intercultural School of Bogor; Anjar Donny Prasetyo, Primary Principal, Jakarta Nanyang School

The post Planning for a digital school: Investments, skills, and security first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

From digital literacy and adaptable curriculums to resourcing and devices. Our panel members share how they are working through challenges and barriers to greater tech adoption in their institutions, in order to make digital transformation effective and successful.

Moderator – Shirley Puspitawati, Director of Operations, Kipina Kids Indonesia
Panellists – Totok Amin Soefijanto, Senior Policy Advisor, Jakarta Provincial Government – Governor’s Delivery Unit; Michael Singh, Head of School, SIS Kelapa Gading; Eric Budiyono, Principal, Temasek Independent School; Francis Teo, Education Business Leader, Lenovo Central Asia Pacific

The post Transforming schools with digitalisation first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

How can a consolidated common platform and virtual learning environment enable greater distance learning? Uncover the experiences of Spectrum International Schools as they share how students, teachers, and parents communicated and ensure smooth transition to online learning with a common VLE hosted on cloud.

Speakers – Osama Yunes, Information Technology & Development Manager, Spectrum International Schools; Cedric Yang, Google Cloud

The post Digital schools and online classrooms powered by Cloud first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

Technology-enabled teaching and learning is a solution but also a challenge. A sudden shift onto distance learning has definitely exposed some of the digital gaps in our education systems, be it in infrastructure or in skills. Hear how schools, public agencies and solution providers are understanding the current state of teaching and learning and how we can transform it further.

Moderator – Nachamma Sockalingam, Program Director, Learning Sciences Lab, Singapore University of Technology and Design
Panellists – Mohd Fadzli Bin Ishak, Assistant Director, ICT Learning Unit, Johor State Education Department; Rob Smith, Higher Education, eResearch Lead APAC & Education Industry Lead – Indonesia (Acting); Francis Teo, Education Business Leader, Lenovo Central Asia Pacific

The post Digital Technologies and Literacy – Are We Future Ready? first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

The scale of tech-enabled operations schools are aiming for calls for a greater expansion of the role of IT leaders and functions. This panel of IT leaders share how they are leading and working together with various stakeholders to ensure the right strategies and processes are in place for successful tech implementation, integration and rollouts.

Moderator – Noel Kelaita, Industry Expert, Insurance Digital Technologies
Panellists – Viktor Datsiuk, Director of Technology, Shanghai Singapore International School; Piyarat Khanthap, Director of ICT and K-12 ICT Coordinator, KIS International School, Bangkok; Mohammed Zoheb Sharieef, Head of ICT, Indus Trust; Joseph Nettikaden, Chief Information Officer, Esol Education

The post How business-centric tech experts are driving digitalisation first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

Further leverage on increased digital learning and students’ digital footprint with school-wide online tracking tool. Discover how you can take a different approach to understanding the progress of students and how well teaching and learning is performing with holistic student data.

Moderator – Matthew Scott, Principal, Middleton International School
Panellists – Kathryn Garden, Curriculum and Assessment Lead, SPARK Schools; Ahmed Hussain, Director of Education, Harrow International AISL; Matthew Smith, Head of Student Progress, Dulwich International High School Suzhou

The post Developing and implementing principles and practices of effective digital assessment first appeared on EDUtech_talks.

This panel of school and digital leaders discuss the value of dedicated leadership in driving meaningful tech adoption and its impact on realising the potential of EdTech. They also share how personalised learning and improving student engagement can be achieved with the appropriate tools and activities.

Moderator – Khoo Hung Chuan, General Manager, Education Transform and Development, Asia Pacific
Panellists – Colin Northmore, Principal, ADvTECH Evolve Online School; Angela Schaerer, Digital Transformation Manager; Crispian Farrow, Group Chief Innovation Officer, Education in Motion; Mark Orrow-Whiting, Director of Curriculum and Student Performance, Nord Anglia Education; Joh Liang Hee, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, Sing-Ed Global Schoolhouse Pte. Ltd

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