The UK is engaged at a strategic level with the Ministry of Education and higher education and scientific organisations
Education offers good opportunities for UK companies (ELT, vocational training, introduction of new technologies and content, e-learning, consultation services, didactic and pedagogic equipment, investments in new schools and universities)
Najat Benyahia
Trade Advisor
UKTI Nigeria
There is an increasing demand for e-learning and interactive solutions (such as simulation games) both in the learning institutions and corporate organisations to aid learning and maintain a competent workforce. Also, there is need for Educational ICT hardware facilities i.e. equipments for schools and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Increasing demand for UK professional courses and distance learning products, corporate collaborations with UK institutions to conduct training programs throughout Nigeria and Train-the Trainer.
The Nigerian Government has recently reiterated its commitment to provide education to children with special needs and is looking to take advantage of the best practice procedure of inclusive schools as observed in the UK particularly how to provide the necessary infrastructure and equipments needed by the schools.
Ms Folasade Aderoju
Trade Development Manager
UKTI Pakistan
The concept of continuous professional development and training for teachers / staff are key opportunity areas for the investors. Introduction of new technologies and educational material, the growth of use of information and communications technology and its tools in the field of education has seen growth mainly in the Higher Education Science/Technology Public Sector institutes.
Opportunities exist across the board, from basic lab equipment to the trend towards modern and progressive technologies and techniques such as blended learning, e-coaching and web design mainly in the private sector.
Professional training e.g. for language (Linguaphone)
Ms Tazkia Abbas
UK Trade & Investment, Manager
UKTI Portugal
Content for Interactive White Boards
Online Content for Students, Teachers and Parents
Online Professional Development for Teachers
Claudia Luis
Trade and Investment Adviser
UKTI Qatar
Education became an HVO recently in Qatar and ICT is one of our major focus at the moment
In the International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Development Index, which ranks countries by their tech muscle, Qatar is the only Arab country to make the top 30. Computer penetration in Qatar more than doubled between 2008 and 2012, from 32 % to 67 %, while internet usage grew from 36 % to 69 %.
ICT is highly involved in the Supreme Education Council (Ministry of Education), and there is a big demand for the British Expertise and British Curriculum.
Russia’s educational system is undergoing extensive modernisation for students to develop 21st century skills – technology and media literacy, effective communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. A national education project, started in 2006, has already doubled the number of modern computers in Russian schools. In addition, all schools have been connected by Russian government to the Internet.
Currently, a state program called “Education and Innovative Economy Development” is being run to support the development of the most promising activities in secondary and higher education including modern learning environments with improved teaching methods, professional development for teachers, modern technology, Internet connectivity, and local digital content.
Most ICT classes take place in secondary school (12-16 years), students in primary school are introduced to the basics of computer literacy at a young age. This is in line with guidelines from the Federal Education Agency of Russia, which recommends that schools develop an educational programme to teach students about computer technology. Russian students study for a total of 11 years and enter 1st class at the age of six to seven years. The federal guidelines indicate that ICT should be included in the curriculum from 2nd class onwards.
Ms Daria Tokmeninova
Trade and Investment Advisor for Education and Creative
UKTI Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the largest ICT market in the MENA Region
ICT spending has grown at over 10% per year since 2001
Strong commitment to e-commerce and e-governance initiatives (including IP protection)
Saudi Arabia offers compelling growth opportunities for IT solution providers across multiple industry verticals owing to the the government's economic diversification plan, which is driving growth and investment in the private sector.
Global IT firms with considerable local presence will benefit the most from this opportunity.
Ms Mumtaz Abdulla
Senior Trade & Investment Officer
UKTI Serbia
Gap between ICT education programmes offered within all segments of education and business-market needs.
Lack of teaching staff and researchers in ICT. Existing teaching staff is in a need of ICT skills development.
Insufficient use of ICT equipment in education programmes. Opportunity for software and equipment suppliers
Singapore aspires to be a centre for innovation in the use of infocomm technologies for the education and learning sector.
The value of training sufficient ICT mentors in the school system to share good practices (e.g. ICT-based lesson plans) with other teachers via The ICT Connection – an online platform.
The Fourth Masterplan for ICT in Education will be launched in late 2014 / 2015 – key objective is to bridge students’ digital interests to the way they learn in school to achieve meaningful learning outcomes. There is likely to be a focus on enhancing teachers’ ICT competencies.
Mr Malcolm Yiong
Trade & Investment Manager
UKTI South Africa
The South African Government’s contribution to public education remains their single largest investment. The budget for 2014 allocated £15bn to the sector, 20% of Government expenditure. South Africa has 12 million pupils in 25,000 schools. There are 23 public universities, 50 public further education colleges and numerous private institutions.
South Africa has both an advanced and developing economy in ICT in education. The higher income population has access to sophisticated technology but the majority of state run education institutions have limited access to computers and skills for ICT. The South African Government, through its Broadband policy strategy: South Africa Connect, has set a target to offer 90% of South Africans a minimum speed of 5 Megabits per second (Mbps) by 2020.
South Africa operates a policy of Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) to redress the imbalances of black participation in the economy under the apartheid regime. This legislation influences government procurement and as a result we recommend looking for a local partner to represent you in this market.
