ETIH Innovation Awards: Global Impact shortlist shows edtech scaling across borders
Platforms operating across multiple markets show how edtech is being deployed at scale, with measurable outcomes beyond a single system.
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 category spotlight series continues with Best Global Impact, following more than 140 entries submitted across this year’s awards and reflecting the growing reach of edtech across international markets.
This category recognizes platforms, products, and projects delivering measurable impact across more than one country, with winners set to be announced on May 11.
Where global scale meets measurable outcomes
This category focuses on how edtech solutions operate across borders in real-world conditions. Submissions include platforms deployed across multiple education systems, large-scale AI learning environments, global digital campuses, and infrastructure-led initiatives expanding access in underserved regions.
Judges are assessing whether scale translates into meaningful outcomes. This includes improvements in learning, access, or system efficiency across different markets, alongside evidence of adoption in varied contexts rather than controlled environments.
There is also scrutiny on consistency. Solutions must demonstrate that impact is sustained across regions, not diluted as they scale. Strong entries show how platforms adapt to different systems, maintain usability, and deliver measurable results without relying on highly localized or resource-intensive models.
Finalists
Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU Tech Policy Hackathon)
The APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025 is a multi-stage digital learning platform immersing students in AI- and data-driven problem-solving for underserved Southeast Asian communities. Unlike conventional hackathons, it delivers a blended learning curriculum across three experiential phases: a competitive application process, a policy brief submission, and a three-day mentor-guided prototype sprint with Google, NUS, NECTEC, and Microsoft.
Drawing 299 applicants from 40 universities across 15 economies, the platform produced 12 implementation-ready prototypes assessed on feasibility, ROI, and scalability.
A replicable, equity-driven model proving structured experiential learning delivers measurable, real-world outcomes at regional scale.
Efekta's groundbreaking AI learning platform and learning companion, Addi, was launched to 4 million K-12 students and teachers across Latin America - the world's largest AI learning deployment to date.
Built on the largest English language learning dataset, the platform combines cutting-edge AI with proprietary curricula and decades of pedagogical expertise.
With the plan to add 100 million more students, the platform improves learning outcomes, curriculum alignment and student adoption worldwide, transforming the K-12 education system and how students learn. Classroom teachers remain central to the learning experience - Efekta does not replace them but strengthens their impact.
Ellucian Student is higher ed’s complete solution that powers the end-to-end student lifecycle. Built on a unified, SaaS-native platform with embedded AI, it connects admissions, financial aid, academics, student success, HR, and finance into one intelligent ecosystem. Purpose-built for higher education’s complexity, Ellucian Student transforms fragmented systems into coordinated, data-driven action. AI-powered capabilities—such as predictive retention models, smart academic planning, scholarship matching, credit recognition, and intelligent automation—proactively support students while reducing administrative burden. Across Ellucian’s AI-embedded platform, these capabilities have reached 10M+ unique users and enabled 2.23M+ workflow runs, helping institutions improve outcomes, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
Google Research (AI Quests, with Stanford Accelerator for Learning)
AI Quests is a game-based learning experience developed by Google Research and the Stanford Accelerator for Learning. Designed for middle schoolers (ages 11–14), it transforms complex AI concepts into interactive, code-free quests inspired by real-world research, from predicting floods to mapping the human brain. This initiative promotes active learning, equipping students with the literacy needed to responsibly build AI applications that address future societal challenges. Having already reached 200,000 students globally, we are now scaling to reach 2 million learners by 2026, preparing the next generation of informed digital citizens.
Learning with Experts has reached more than 100,000 learners across 91 countries and six continents, many in markets where access to this quality of expert-led education would otherwise be impossible. Its NHS preventative health programmes are changing patient outcomes across the UK. Its horticulture, health and wellbeing programmes reach learners in Nigeria, Uganda, Vietnam, Indonesia and beyond. The platform has demonstrated that structured, expert-led digital education can cross every boundary that geography and income traditionally impose.
OneSchool Global (Global Digital Learning Ecosystem)
OneSchool Global (OSG) is a connected community of over 8,000 students across 120+ campuses in 20 countries. Its Learning to Learn (L2L) framework develops independent, self-directed learners in hybrid and digitally enabled environments.
To deliver this consistently at scale, OSG designed a global, pedagogy-led digital learning ecosystem to replace fragmented systems with a unified platform integrating Canvas, IXL and data analytics - connecting assessment insight directly to teaching and learning.
Teachers now have real-time visibility of progress while students follow personalised mastery pathways. The digital transformation improved attainment, engagement, and teacher efficiency - enabling a consistent and equitable learning experience worldwide.
This Fall, Pathify announced the Campus Experience Platform (CXP) — a new class of higher education technology unifying every system, user and interaction across the digital campus. As the institution’s “central nervous system,” the CXP replaces siloed portals and front-end solutions with a single, personalized interface serving prospects, students, faculty, alumni, parents and staff. Built for the end user, Pathify’s CXP integrates hundreds of systems to simplify digital sprawl, strengthen belonging and deliver measurable ROI. With more than 250 institutions, from community colleges to R1 research universities, using its CXP, Pathify leads the transformation of higher education’s digital ecosystem worldwide.
Samsung Electronics UK (Solve for Tomorrow)
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a free national education programme equipping 11–18-year-olds with the creativity, design-thinking and STEM skills needed to solve real-world challenges. The re-imagined 2025/26 programme offers a flexible suite of classroom-ready resources, including full curriculum-linked lessons, rapid activities, independent learning materials and an animation that introduces design thinking simply and accessibly. Short films showcase real innovators to help learners connect STEM concepts to future careers, supported by mentoring and work-experience opportunities. Co-created with teachers, young people, the Design Council and the D&T Association, the programme makes high-quality innovation learning accessible, engaging and inclusive for every classroom.
SkillsVR delivers immersive VR and MobileVR training that transforms how businesses, governments, and educational institutions develop skills and build confidence. Our platform centralises training creation, delivery, and analytics—empowering teams to design realistic, scenario-based learning that drives measurable results. One example of our success is our collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), where SkillsVR supports nationwide workforce development through accessible, culturally responsive learning. Mobile access ensures training reaches every learner, anywhere, while outcomes such as faster job readiness and a 34% employment transition rate demonstrate how our platform delivers real-world impact across industries including construction, logistics, horticulture, hospitality, and beyond.
Synap is a global online exam platform built to make high-stakes assessment accessible to every learner, wherever they are. Rather than building only for ideal conditions, Synap specialises in delivering secure, proctored exams in challenging environments where unreliable internet and power connections have traditionally limited access to education and professional opportunities. Its partnership with the University of the Free State in South Africa, where electricity blackouts threatened to derail professional finance certification exams for hundreds of students, is a defining example. Trusted by 500,000+ users worldwide, Synap is redefining what accessible, secure assessment looks like at a global scale.
Wimmer Solutions, a Seattle-based technology consulting firm, is establishing STEM labs in the Philippines' most underserved communities, addressing complete infrastructure gaps where students have never touched laptops and electricity doesn't exist. The initiative includes a completed lab at Gumayan Integrated School serving 250 students and three labs completed in Tawi-Tawi province (33% functional literacy rate) in April 2026. Each lab includes solar power systems, Starlink satellite internet, laptops, and batteries. Through strategic partnerships with the Philippine National Police and Marines, Wimmer is ahead of schedule on its five-year plan to establish 15 labs globally in underserved communities.
Explore the full shortlist
You can explore the full ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 shortlist to see the companies and platforms shaping this year’s awards. Winners will be announced on May 11.
