The European EdTech Alliance contributes to high-level debate on the future of digital education
The European EdTech Alliance, represented by Board Member Alicia Berlanga, participated in a high-level webinar exploring how education systems across Europe and beyond responded to the digital demands brought on by the pandemic—and what the latest international data reveals about the path forward.
Titled “Who leads in digital education? Lessons from PISA, PIAAC and TIMSS”, the event, that took place on Friday, 27th June 2025, was organised by the European Digital Education Hub to reflect on recent findings from three of the world’s most influential education assessments. The panel featured contributions from:
Francesco Avvisati (OECD), lead analyst for PISA and PIAAC
Alicia Berlanga (European EdTech Alliance) Board member
Susan Mulhall and Orlaith O’Connor (Irish Department of Education)
Together, the speakers examined how well different systems adapted to the challenges of school closures, remote learning, and the transition to hybrid environments. They also shared forward-looking strategies to build more inclusive and resilient digital education ecosystems.
The discussion drew heavily on the PISA 2022 results, which show that learning outcomes declined in most countries during the pandemic. However, the data also offers a key insight: moderate, well-supported use of digital technologies can contribute positively to student performance—particularly when integrated with high-quality teaching and inclusive practices. The quality of digital implementation, not just the quantity of screen time, emerged as a central theme.
Similarly, findings from the PIAAC adult skills survey revealed growing gaps in digital and foundational skills among adult populations, especially among low-income and low-education groups. These results point to an urgent need for lifelong learning strategies that include accessible, digitally-enabled solutions.
Alicia Berlanga highlighted how members of the European EdTech Alliance—a network of national edtech associations and innovation clusters—are responding to these challenges with practical and scalable initiatives. From digital content co-creation with teachers and students, to targeted upskilling programs for adults, edtech companies across Europe are playing a critical role in modernising education systems. She also stressed the importance of avoiding simplistic narratives that blame technology for poor outcomes, calling instead for policies that enable effective and equitable digital use—supported by training, infrastructure, and evidence-based design.
The case of Ireland, presented by representatives from its Department of Education, illustrated how coordinated national strategies can lead to meaningful progress. Through strong investment in teacher training, infrastructure, and inclusive platforms, Ireland has become a leader in digital preparedness, offering valuable lessons for other EU member states.
This webinar reinforced the shared conviction that digital education must be intentional, inclusive, and resilient. The European EdTech Alliance continues to advocate for responsible technology integration that strengthens—not replaces—good teaching and learning.
