ETIH’s most-read stories in February: Cyber-security breaches, AI, and student mental health
February was packed with major developments in EdTech, from significant funding rounds to data breaches shaking the sector. AI continued to make headlines, while universities, schools, and startups pushed forward with new innovations. As always, we’ve compiled the ten most-read stories of the month.
10. General Assembly and CompTIA tackle the cybersecurity skills gap
Kicking off our list, General Assembly and CompTIA announced a new suite of cybersecurity and IT training programs aimed at addressing the industry-wide workforce shortage. With nearly four million cybersecurity roles unfilled globally, this initiative focuses on upskilling and reskilling professionals, offering industry-recognised certifications.
The programme includes an IT Bootcamp for non-technical professionals, cybersecurity upskilling paths, and an IT fundamentals workshop.
9. Cybersecurity experts weigh in on the PowerSchool breach
The first cybersecurity-related entry on our list is an ETIH exclusive, where Olivier Bilodeau, Principal Cybersecurity Researcher, and Nick Ascoli, Director of Product Strategy at Flare break down the PowerSchool data breach and what it means for educational institutions.
They highlight the lack of multi-factor authentication as a key failing, warning that centralised education platforms remain vulnerable to attack.
8. AI is back! Integem launches AI Space Explorer Programme
AI makes its first (but not last) appearance on our list this month as Integem introduced its AI Space Explorer Programme for K-12 students. This STEM-focused initiative allows students to work hands-on with AI-driven drones and high-altitude balloon projects, reaching up to 100,000 feet.
Students can join through in-person camps, online courses, or school integration, with an option to earn NVIDIA AI certification.
7. Amira Learning appoints new COO to scale AI-powered literacy solutions
AI is back again—this time in the literacy space. Amira Learning, known for its AI-driven reading platform, appointed Amy Scholz as Chief Operating Officer to expand its impact on struggling readers.
Scholz, who started her career as a teacher and reading specialist, has since held leadership roles at Curriculum Associates, Imagine Learning, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Her appointment aligns with Amira’s mission to integrate AI with the Science of Reading, making literacy interventions more effective.
6: Polymath secures $1M to scale its adaptive maths platform
Kid-tech startup Polymath bagged $1 million in funding this month, bringing its adaptive maths learning platform to a wider audience. Backed by investors including ClassDojo’s CTO, the platform gamifies maths education using an adaptive algorithm to personalise learning.
Polymath’s CEO Sophie Silver believes that engagement is key to educational success: "We're rebranding learning as exciting and developing a learning algorithm to simultaneously deliver results."
The platform, which is free for teachers, is gaining traction across the US, UK, New Zealand, and Australia.
5. Pathify raises $25M to enhance higher ed digital engagement
Pathify, the digital engagement hub for higher education, secured a $25 million investment from Five Elms Capital this month. The funding will help expand its integration library and introduce new features aimed at improving student engagement and institutional efficiency.
CEO Chase Williams described the investment as a pivotal moment for the company, which has grown 544% over the last three years. As institutions look for tech solutions that improve student experiences while providing measurable ROI, Pathify is positioning itself as a leader in the space.
4. PowerSchool confirms data breach impacting millions of students
One of the biggest cybersecurity incidents in education history took centre stage in February. PowerSchool, one of the largest student information system (SIS) providers in the US, confirmed that millions of student records were exposed due to unauthorised access.
The breach, which occurred through a stolen password on a system without multi-factor authentication, exposed names, birthdates, contact details, and, in some cases, Social Security numbers and medical records. PowerSchool has since paid a ransom, though experts remain sceptical about whether the stolen data was truly erased.
3. Harvard tops THE World Reputation Rankings for the 14th consecutive year
No surprises at number three—Harvard has once again topped the Times Higher Education (THE) World Reputation Rankings.
The 2025 edition saw the ranking expand to 300 universities, with Oxford climbing to joint second alongside MIT.
Asia saw strong representation, with Tsinghua University (China) and The University of Tokyo making the top ten.
THE’s Phil Baty described academic reputation as “a powerful currency in global higher education.”
2. Sodexo expands campus dining to support student well-being
Student mental health and social engagement took centre stage this month as Sodexo Campus introduced new initiatives based on findings from its Student Lifestyle Survey. With 50% of Gen Z students reporting increased anxiety, Sodexo is reshaping campus dining to foster a greater sense of belonging.
Among the key changes: more inclusive dining spaces, training for staff on student engagement, and new food models based on sustainability.
1. UPLOpen expands its open-access research library to 10,000 titles
Topping our list this month is UPLOpen, which reached a major milestone by expanding its open-access library to 10,000 titles. The platform, managed by De Gruyter eBound Foundation, aims to make academic research freely accessible worldwide.
Since launching in April 2024, UPLOpen has grown rapidly, partnering with over 50 academic publishers. It now integrates with major library catalogues and has introduced AI-powered search features to improve discoverability.
