Starring Udemy, Nintendo and University of Washington: ETIH rolls out the biggest education technology news stories of the week

Yesterday it was GCSE results day across the UK, and we’re sending our best wishes to all the year 11 students. You've worked incredibly hard, and we hope you're feeling proud of everything you've achieved.

We also want to give a huge shoutout to the teachers who have been there every step of the way. Your dedication and support have made all the difference, and we’re grateful for the incredible work you do.

As usual the world of edtech has been busy and we've gathered the latest stories that highlight the innovations, partnerships, and developments shaping the future of education.

Here are the top stories from the past seven days that you need to know about:

PlayVS and Nintendo expand esports partnership to middle schools across North America

PlayVS, a competitive gameplay platform in North America, has renewed and expanded its partnership with Nintendo of America.

This collaboration, now in its fourth year, will extend competitive gaming opportunities to middle schools in addition to high schools across the United States and Canada.

PlayVS is known for providing a structured platform for competitive esports, allowing students to participate in organised gameplay at the high school and now middle school levels. The platform supports students, coaches, educators, and parents in creating a community where esports can thrive.

Read the full story.

Thomson Reuters strengthens Legal AI with Safe Sign Technologies acquisition

Thomson Reuters has acquired Safe Sign Technologies, a UK-based startup specialising in the development of legal-specific large language models.

"This acquisition marks another milestone on our journey to combine our trusted content and world-class domain experts with cutting-edge technology," said Joel Hron, Chief Technology Officer at Thomson Reuters. "We believe Safe Sign’s models have demonstrated industry-leading performance, and this acquisition will help us deliver greater quality and performance from our AI solutions."

Read the full story.

Pack Ventures and University of Washington team up to drive innovation and support UW startups

Pack Ventures , an independent venture capital fund, has formed a strategic partnership with the University of Washington to boost innovation and support entrepreneurial ventures emerging from the university.

Ken Horenstein, founder of Pack Ventures and a UW alumnus, stated: “The UW has seen over $30 billion in exit valuations in the past decade, and with further nurturing, that number will grow. Working with the UW, we will support entrepreneurial ventures while helping to attract top-tier faculty and students, increasing philanthropy, and engaging alumni in meaningful ways.”

Read the full story.

USC Gould introduces AI law certificate to address legal implications of artificial intelligence

The University of Southern California's USC Gould School of Law has announced the launch of a new on-campus certificate specialisation in Law and Artificial Intelligence.

"As AI reshapes the legal industry, it is imperative that legal professionals possess the expertise to leverage the potential of AI while also addressing the associated legal and ethical considerations," said Franita Tolson, Dean of USC Gould School of Law and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law. "Our curriculum provides practitioners with the specialised knowledge and skills needed to thrive in this evolving legal area."

Read the full story.

Northern Trust and Greenlight collaborate to promote financial literacy for families

Northern Trust has partnered with Greenlight to enhance financial literacy for families. Through this tie up, Northern Trust clients will receive complimentary access to Greenlight’s family finance app and debit card, available via the Greenlight for Banks programme.

Pamela Lucina, Chief Fiduciary Officer for Northern Trust, noted, “Knowledge becomes skill through practice. In addition to families talking openly and honestly about finances, children need hands-on money management experience to prepare them for a lifelong journey of financial responsibility.”

Read the full story.

Udemy founder Eren Bali returns to online skills marketplace and learning platform in CTO role

Udemy, an online skills marketplace and learning platform, reports that Eren Bali, who co-founded the company in 2010 and served as Chief Executive Officer until 2014, has returned as Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

He will report directly to President and CEO, Greg Brown, and will oversee Udemy’s engineering, data, and technical programme management teams.

“As a founder, CEO, and longtime board member who is a proven, growth-oriented, strategic and operational leader, Eren has been instrumental in building Udemy from day one to become the business it is today,” says Brown.

Read the full story.

HERide and Spelman College join forces for campus safety during Red Zone

HERide, a rideshare service focused on providing safe and reliable transportation, has announced a strategic partnership with Spelman College to bolster campus safety during the "Red Zone."

The partnership, led by HERide founders Jillian Anderson and DeVynne Starks—both graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—aims to support and protect female students during this vulnerable time.

Dr. Jaray E. Mazique, Ed.D., Spelman’s director of Title IX and Compliance, expressed strong support for the partnership, stating, “We are excited to partner with HERide to enhance our efforts through safer rideshare options and community events.”

Read the full story.

Reading Horizons relaunches AI-driven Science of Reading Collective for literacy educators

Reading Horizons, a provider of foundational literacy programmes, has relaunched The Science of Reading Collective (SoR Collective), a community aimed at supporting literacy leaders and educators with resources aligned to the science of reading research.

The SoR Collective, which has grown steadily over the past three years, is transitioning to a new community platform. The updated platform incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) to help members connect based on shared interests and experiences.

Jillian Kaster, founder and moderator of The Science of Reading Collective, commented, “The community is open to everyone who uses—or is interested in—evidenced-based methods to teach reading. We heavily vet all the resources and have a process to ensure ongoing alignment to the latest research.”

Read the full story.

Parents express mixed views on AI in education, new Norton survey reveals

AI continues to shape our daily lives, and education is no exception. While AI offers promising enhancements to education, ethical and safety implications give many parents pause.

With 93% of parents of schoolchildren aged 5 and up are concerned about AI being used in the classroom or at school, Norton has released a study delving into what parents in the USA think about their children using AI and shared best practices to navigate the back-to-school season safely.

Read the full story.