Celebrating 3 Years of the EEA at the 2024 AGM in Amsterdam
The European EdTech Alliance members and board met in Amsterdam and online, for the 2024 Annual General Meeting on October 4. It was generously hosted by Dutch EdTech and joined by 19 of our members. This significant event celebrated three successful years of collaboration and innovation within the Alliance.
During the meeting, members reflected on their shared journey as a part of the European alliance, exploring past, current, and future projects and initiatives. These included the European EdTech Map, Female EdTech Fellowship, EmpowerED, and the EdTech Strategy Lab, as well as high-level policy initiatives with the Council of Europe, the European Commission and UNESCO. The review of 2024’s achievements underscored the fact that the EEA is playing a crucial role in the growth and impact of the EdTech sector in Europe.
A major highlight of the meeting was the election of the new Board of the Alliance, which is composed of seven exceptional EdTech professionals, each bringing a wealth of experience from diverse industries and a passion for creating supporting innovation ecosystems in their respective environments. The board’s collective vision will be instrumental in driving the European EdTech Alliance forward, particularly as the organisation continues to increase membership values and further support the growth and innovation of the European EdTech ecosystem. Beth Havinga, Managing Director of the EEA, is excited to work with the newly appointed board, stating:
“As we continue to build momentum within the European EdTech ecosystem, this new board represents the diversity, innovation, and collaboration that we need to drive change and growth in our sector. Together, we will continue to collaborate with on policy initiatives and with industry leaders to support education systems that meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital landscape”
The newly elected board members are:
Jannie Jeppesen, First Chair (Swedish EdTech Industry)
Flora Retfalvi, Second Chair (Edutech Hungary)
Tobias Himmerich, Treasurer (EDUvation)
Donatella Solda, General Board Member (EdTech Italia)
Alicia Berlanga, General Board Member (Edutechcluster Spain)
Albena Spasova, General Board Member (EdTech Bulgaria)
Thomas Van Cauwenberghe, General Board Member (<edtech/station>)
Jannie Jeppesen shared that she is looking forward to continuing in her role of First Chair and to work with everyone involved to take the next step in the organisation’s development. In her words:
“The entire EEA team has done great work over the last three years, establishing us as a force to be reckoned with on the European stage.” Acknowledging that the European EdTech sector faces both opportunities and challenges ahead, Jeppessen underscored the importance of the EEA’s future work: “We are a continent with over 200 languages and more curricula than there are countries. We must strengthen the European small and medium-sized EdTech companies that meet the unique needs across Europe. EdTech from and for Europe will strengthen our competitiveness on the world stage.””
This year’s AGM attendees were also invited to participate in the first-ever Dutch EdTech Summit, with over 100 attendees, where the highly anticipated Dutch EdTech Report was launched. This report outlines the challenges and opportunities within the EdTech sector in the Netherlands, offering important insights into the industry’s current landscape more broadly.
The 2024 AGM served as a fantastic opportunity for face-to-face connections among dedicated community members, leaving all participants invigorated and eager to collaborate in continuing to shape the future of European EdTech.
“Bringing the AGM of the EEA to Amsterdam while hosting our first-ever national Summit and launching the 2024 State of the Dutch EdTech Ecosystem report was a great pleasure. It was a special moment for me, uniting diverse voices from across Europe in meaningful conversations. This gathering showcased the power of collaboration in driving educational innovation and reminded us of the valuable lessons we can share as we shape the future of learning together.”
