A Double Return for Financial and Educational Success
Prof. Natalia Kucirkova, University of Stavanger & Co-Founder of the International Centre for EdTech Impact
In the fast-growing edtech sector, companies are under immense pressure to scale their products quickly and reach as many users as possible. However, without solid, independent evidence showing how their tools actually improve learning outcomes, they risk losing credibility and missing the mark on truly benefiting students. This is where partnering with researchers becomes not just important, but essential.
The Importance of Evidence in EdTech
For startup companies, the challenge is clear: scale and access often take priority over proving effectiveness. Yet, in today’s competitive and high-stakes education market, relying on assumptions or anecdotal evidence won’t cut it. Decision-makers—whether they’re schools, governments, or parents—demand proof that a product works before investing in it. By collaborating with researchers, companies can provide that proof and ensure their tools genuinely improve student learning outcomes.
Scaling EdTech with Credibility
It is a known secret in the field that even well-established edtech companies—those at the Series C stage and beyond—are often missing the evidence they need to validate their impact. But with the teacher shortage, post-COVID funding stops and global learning crisis, there is a renewed pressure on all actors of the EdTech ecosystem to demonstrate that every dollar and minute spent with EdTech are well spent. By working with researchers to conduct rigorous evaluations, companies can better refine their products, expand their reach, and build a reputation for delivering results.
The Need for Rigorous Evaluations
Against this backdrop, we at the International Centre for EdTech Impact (“WiKIT”) work to support academia-industry partnerships that elevate the scientific rigor of edtech products. The Centre connects companies with researchers who bring deep expertise in Page 1 Exploring EdTech Ireland - Issue #9 – December 2024 education, learning sciences, and impact measurement. By doing so, we can ensure that products aren’t just scalable but are validated through empirical testing that demonstrates their real-world impact on learning. Our goal is to enable all edtech companies to embed independent, evidence-driven insights into their product development process.
One trend we observed in our work with VCs and impact investors, is the appetite for shared benchmarks around what we mean by “impact” and “evidence”. Several groups and global agencies are working toward standardizing the evidence required for edtech products. In just a few years, the goal is to create a universal benchmark for what constitutes credible evidence of impact in edtech. With this consensus, companies will not only be able to validate their products across multiple international markets but will also be able to predict which solutions work best for different learners in various contexts. This shift will be game-changing, allowing edtech companies to generate and leverage evidence to build smarter, more effective tools for education.
The ICEIE Certification Advantage
One of the initiatives that our researchers are involved in is the work happening under our sister organisation, Eduevidence.org. Here, the International Certification of Evidence of Impact in Education is quickly gaining traction. Companies that receive the ICEIE certification show that they meet high standards of evidence, helping them stand out in a crowded market. As policymakers and educators increasingly demand scientific backing for the tools they adopt, being ICEIE-certified will become a critical asset for edtech companies aiming for global recognition and trust.
Prioritising Evidence-Based Validation
My recommendation to all edtech companies is to prioritise the importance of independent, evidence-based validation of their products. By partnering with researchers, companies can ensure their solutions are proven to make a measurable and independent impact on student learning. With growing pressure from stakeholders to demonstrate efficacy, collaborating with experts to build and share evidence is not just an option—it’s a business imperative. In the end, the companies that prioritize evidence will be the ones that lead the way in shaping the future of education.
