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EdTech Takes Off: Five Trends that will Dominate Educational Technology

In the era of global digitalization, the edtech industry is gaining momentum around the world, including Kazakhstan. Innovative approaches cover a wide range of audiences – from preschoolers to adult professionals seeking self-improvement through learning.

Products aimed at an adult audience in search of additional education or retraining continue to be a key growth driver, shaping the Adult Edtech sector.

The Adult Edtech segment has seen significant growth in recent years, highlighting its growing influence on the industry. Estimates of the value of companies in the field of edtech and employment show significant fluctuations, as established companies attract significant capital inflows, thousands of new participants enter the field, and investors in search of scalable and profitable business models. At the moment, there are many unicorn startups in the edtech industry, whose value exceeds $ 1 billion.

Among the platforms that enjoy well-deserved respect, Coursera, Skillshare, Stepik, edX and others stand out. However, it is worth noting that the leader in capitalization in the edtech world is the Indian BYJU's, estimated at $22 billion in 2023. The second and third places are occupied by Chinese companies Yuanfudao and New Oriental, estimated at 15 and 9 billion dollars, respectively.

Here are five key trends in the field of edtech that market players should pay attention to when developing their strategies:

  • 1. Unprecedented capital inflows into the edtech sector, boosted by AI integration

Thanks to accelerated technological innovations, including advances in artificial intelligence, and digitalization of business processes, companies around the world are striving to continuously improve the skills of their employees. Artificial intelligence, in particular, opens up new opportunities for personalizing learning and automating learning processes, which makes investments in edtech even more attractive.

The expansion of broadband Internet access and the improvement of distance learning technologies, especially those based on AI, have contributed to significant growth in the sector.

In 2021, venture capital investors invested a record $20.8 billion in the industry.

Despite lower valuations of public companies, private edtech firms, especially those that integrate AI into their products, continue to attract significant investments. Venture capital funds are actively investing in edtech, driven by the increased adoption of educational technologies during the pandemic and the expectation that online education and personalized learning using AI will become the new norm.

  • 2. Mergers and partnerships in the Edtech sector as a strategy to achieve scale and efficiency

In an effort to increase the lifetime value of customers compared to the cost of attracting them, edtech companies are looking for ways to optimize their costs.

Financial reports have revealed that for major industry players, sales and marketing expenses account for a significant share of revenue – from 20 to 60 percent.

In order to reduce the high cost of customer acquisition (CAC) and strengthen their position in the market, some edtech companies choose the path of mergers and acquisitions. An example is 2U's acquisition of the edX platform for $800 million, which gave 2U access to a powerful user base and partner universities around the world, promising to reduce CAC and expand its market presence.

In addition, the recent $3 billion merger of Anthology and Blackboard highlights the trend of large-scale industry mergers backed by significant investments. However, after the deals are concluded, companies face the challenges of integrating their systems and operations to realize strategic advantages and achieve synergies.

In this context, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a critical success factor, as AI can significantly improve learning processes, content personalization and data analytics, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing the long-term operating costs of companies in the edtech sector.

  • 3. Retraining and advanced training of employees are becoming a priority for large companies

With a record number of vacancies in the United States and difficulties in hiring qualified employees, attracting and retaining talent is coming to the fore for many organizations. Well-known companies, including Amazon, Walmart, Target and Google, are actively investing in employee training and development programs in an effort to reduce staff turnover and close skill gaps. The programs of such companies are often integrated into their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategies.

Responding to the growing demand for retraining and advanced training services, online education platforms are strengthening their corporate offerings.

Of the 15 leading companies specializing in adult education that received significant funding in 2021, almost all offer corporate programs.

Even organizations such as Coursera, initially focused on individual users, have significantly increased their revenues at the expense of corporate clients, emphasizing the strategic importance of this segment.

  • 4. India is becoming a leader in the global edtech industry

In the early 2010s, the United States attracted more than three quarters of all global venture capital financing in the edtech sector. However, by the end of the decade, the picture had changed, and investors began to actively invest in the Indian market, especially against the background of tightening regulatory measures in China, which seriously affected the local edtech industry.

At the same time, the Indian company BYJU's, a leader in the field of edtech, was estimated at $22 billion in 2023, which underlines the rapid growth and global ambitions of Indian companies. In 2021, India's share of global edtech financing increased to 18%, while China reduced its share to less than 13%.

India provides unique opportunities for international and local edtech companies through the widespread adoption of the English language, which allows global players such as Udacity, Coursera and edX to successfully enter the market without the need for significant content translation.

At the same time, local Indian companies such as Emeritus are reaching billion-dollar valuations and are actively expanding their presence in the international arena, including through acquisitions in the American market.

In the face of increasing global competition, edtech companies are encouraged to develop customized strategies for each target country, while maintaining protection and development in their domestic markets.

  • 5. By paying attention to career growth, Edtech leaders are reaching a new level of interaction

A McKinsey study conducted in 2021 with more than 3,500 students studying through edtech platforms found that a significant number of students are motivated by a desire for career growth and a search for community. Despite the active introduction of the latest technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, Web 3, artificial intelligence and machine learning into the educational process, students expect more than just high-quality content.

They seek additional services, such as personalized mentoring, job interview preparation, and job placement support. In response to these needs, edtech companies are developing their services to offer a more fulfilling and engaging user experience.

An example is the Indian company Upgrade, which acquired a recruitment agency, strengthening its capabilities in the field of career counseling. In the USA, On Deck is developing a unique business model, focusing on creating a community rather than selling courses.

And Arizona State University offers students of distance and hybrid education comprehensive support, including free consultations, mentoring and crisis management assistance, thereby emphasizing the importance of an integrated approach to education and career development.

Despite a temporary decrease in activity in 2019, global investments in the edtech sector have shown an impressive average annual growth of 45% over the past five years, with a further increase of 30% expected in the period 2020-2021. This sector is one of the most dynamic and promising, but market participants should carefully analyze trends and monitor changes in order to optimize their strategies and investment decisions, remaining at the forefront of innovation and industry development.

  • Adapting global EdTech trends for Kazakhstan: the way forward

In the context of Kazakhstan, where digitalization and innovation in education are becoming increasingly relevant, analyzing and adapting global trends in the field of edtech is not only useful, but also necessary. Here are some strategies that can help Kazakhstan integrate the best global edtech practices and ensure sustainable development in this area:

  1. Focus on corporate training and retraining: Supporting career growth and developing employee skills should be a priority for Kazakhstani companies, especially in light of rapidly changing market conditions and technological evolution.
  2. Investing in edtech startups: Encouraging venture financing and investments in local edtech projects can contribute to the innovation ecosystem and support the development of domestic educational technologies.
  3. Cooperation with international platforms: Partnership with the world's leading edtech companies can enrich the local educational space with advanced techniques and technologies.
  4. Support for content localization: Adapting educational content to the cultural and linguistic characteristics of Kazakhstan will increase the effectiveness of education and make technology more accessible to the general public.

The implementation of these strategies will help Kazakhstan not only integrate into the global educational community, but also form its own unique approach to the use of technology in education, which will ultimately increase the competitiveness of the nation and contribute to the comprehensive development of its citizens.

This material is based on a study published by McKinsey & Company titled 'Five trends to watch in the edtech industry'. Some parts of the text have been supplemented or adapted by the author to provide content and additional perspective. All added comments and analyses are solely the interpretation of the author. This material is not intended for commercial use and was created for the purpose of information exchange and educational purposes.