Global tech giant Lenovo is penetrating the education market to help educators embrace innovative hybrid learning to equip students and prepare them for future skills.
Consulting firm Grand View Research reported the global education technology market was valued at US$106 billion in 2021 and is projected to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.5% from 2022 and 2030.
Asia-Pacific is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 19% from 2022 to 2030, according to the consultancy.
"Education technology is an enormous opportunity as schools need to drive towards digital transformation to support learners in the hybrid environment since the pandemic," said Stuart King, executive director and general manager for education solutions and devices at Lenovo Global.
There is still a gap in access and use of those digital technologies.
"We saw the shift towards distance education during the pandemic over the past two-and-a-half years," said Mr King.
Permanent hybrid learning is needed for students who are unable to study at school and is vital to prepare for unexpected incidents that could happen in the future, he said.
Lenovo established a vertical team focusing on the education sector.
Based on a report by the World Economic Forum, more than half of all employees globally will require significant reskilling and upskilling over the next three years.
Mr King said educators need to provide high-quality relevant content that helps develop future skill in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as digital marketing, advanced manufacturing, data analytics, gamification, augmented reality and virtual reality.
Educators need to provide a seamless environment to allow collaborative and engaging learning experiences for students, while technology can help teachers reduce the burden from lesson preparation and dissemination as well as keep track of each learner's progress, he said.
For courses related to STEM and e-sports, Lenovo can support high-performance computers for usage in study.
Atinuch Chorrojprasert, general manager for Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia and business unit manager at Lenovo, said universities have flexibility in their teaching programmes, driving them to adopt more advanced e-learning content.
For schooling at levels below university, they still face limitations under the framework of the Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry, she said.
To assist educators in the digital transformation challenge, Lenovo has partnered with Microsoft to launch the "EdVision" programme to provide free access to online resources, as well as complimentary or subsidised access to education solutions.
Lenovo offers tailor-made solutions for design, architecture, implementation and after-sales services with its new business model, which supports pay-per-use, cost efficiency and security in smart class rooms that combine devices, software, content, cloud and artificial intelligence, said Ms Atinuch.
