Bengal and Britain to come closer in Edtech sector

Kolkata: West Bengal and the UK are poised to come closer with the UK edtech sector’s disruptive innovation offer to the education sector in Kolkata.

The UK-India Edtech collaboration event, organised by the British Deputy High Commission Kolkata, Union Education Group, WOWL, and supported by ABE, Defacto Ed, Novistra and the British Council, held at the British Club on Friday aimed to celebrate and advance the partnership between the UK and India in the education technology sector.

The event brought together educators, policymakers and industry leaders in Kolkata to explore the transformative potential of Edtech in enhancing education and fostering stronger bilateral ties between the state and the UK.

The UK stakeholders highlighted cutting-edge technologies developed by UK Edtech companies that enhance learning, personalise education and empower educators in India.

During the interactive session, along with the core sessions on Edtech, they also provided information on scholarships available for Indian students to study in the UK, fostering a global exchange of knowledge and culture. The initiative seeks to facilitate the development of collaborations between Indian educational institutions and world-renowned schools in the United Kingdom.

The representatives of the UK edtech sector showcased their innovative solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of Indian students and institutions.

British Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India Andrew Fleming said: “We have already seen successful collaborations between UK Edtech companies and Indian institutions. For instance, platforms like Century Tech and Sparx Maths have partnered with Indian schools, delivering exceptional results in student engagement and academic performance.”

He added, “The organisers of this wonderful event, Union Education Group and WOWL had partnered with schools in Kolkata and Darjeeling and students are reaping the benefits of their language learning platform. I am excited to think that such partnerships are just the beginning; there is immense potential for further collaboration.”

Union Education Group CEO Harry Darell said: “Union Education Group (UEG) is expanding its business in India via collaboration with WOWL Edtech. Ever since the British Council's 'Digital Learning and Innovation Fund,' we have been enthusiastically working with WOWL to connect with Indian students in the primary, secondary and higher education sectors, as well as workers who are looking to develop their skills and employability opportunities.”

He added, “The focus up to this point has been language and skills development on the WOWL app, learning with educators from UEG. We are now moving into physical centres in Kolkata and Darjeeling, with a view to opening up in both Delhi and Bangalore later this year. An additional core focus area will be UK Study abroad and UEG will shortly begin facilitating tours of UK schools and universities for Indian students.”