Rebecca Stromeyer, Conference Chair of OEB Global, explained, "The feedback from our global network of more than 80,000 education professionals, analysts, and investors tells us that Covid-19 has had a huge impact on education and training around the world. Many schools, colleges, and universities are facing enormous challenges just to keep going. They need help to change, and we must all work together to ensure that no young person is denied an education.

"For many years, OEB Global has been saying that technology is the key to the future for education and training. We've talked about how it can spread opportunity and open up new horizons for people around the world. Experts and practitioners in our network have been involved in developing, producing, and promoting every kind of technology assisted learning.

"Now it's clear that the issue is not just opportunity; it's necessity. In many countries, education now faces an existential threat. After all the advances that have been made through the UN SDGs and other initiatives, Covid-19 is a real setback. The whole world now needs to embrace blended learning in one form or another. We can no longer rely exclusively on the classroom. It's not just about preventing another crisis in the future; it's about ensuring that education and training don't just disappear altogether for millions of people. Technology and blended learning have to be made a part of every learner's experience as a matter of priority."

Ms. Stromeyer's comments follow remarks by UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, who said recently, "The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the largest disruption of education ever. In mid-July, schools were closed in more than 160 countries, affecting over 1 billion students. At least 40 million children worldwide have missed out on education in their critical pre-school year … We must take bold steps now to create inclusive, resilient, quality education systems fit for the future."

Ms. Stromeyer added that this year's OEB Global will focus on developing viable solutions and new partnerships to extend the reach of technology assisted learning. "At its heart," she said, "will be a focus on best practice and understanding what works. This affects every sector of education and training. In schools, in universities, and in the workplace, people know there has to be a big change. They are urgently looking for solutions. They are asking how to establish viable new forms of teaching, training, and learning. They need methods, systems, and technologies that work for them."

Ms. Stromeyer emphasised that OEB Global's unique network provides not only access to an unrivalled pool of knowledge and expertise, but also access to some of the world's leading solutions providers. By bringing experts, practitioners, and investors from around the world together to focus on best practice and practical solutions at this year's conference, she hopes that OEB Global will help to bring about the "sea change" that is now necessary in global education.

A major focus of the 2020 conference will be the paradigm shifts in thinking engendered by the period of lockdown. Also high on the agenda are the operational and technical solutions developed by schools, colleges, institutions, and businesses as the result of having to cope with the need to initiate or expand virtual learning modalities.

Other major conference themes include

• implementing and scaling up
• design and delivery
• data and learning
• assessing skill and competence
• supporting workforce performance
• the new L&D
• tech triggers
• education futures

Among the keynote speakers are

• Marina Gorbis, Director of the Institute for the Future
• Sean Michael Morris, Director of the Digital Pedagogy Lab at the University of Colorado
• Tony O'Driscoll of Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and Research
• Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills at the OECD
• Barbara Wasson, Director of the Centre for the Science of Learning and Technology at the University of Bergen
• David White, Head of Digital Learning at the University of the Arts London
• Guy Wilmshurst-Smith, Head of Network Rail Training

OEB Global, Europe’s largest conference and exhibition on technology assisted learning and training, will convene at Berlin’s InterContinental Hotel, 02 - 04 December 2020.