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Dr. Hany Saqr: Assisting People Across the Globe by Offering Humanitarian Services

Founded in 1992, Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) is a non-profit based out of Southfield, Michigan. Being a non-profit organization, LIFE is dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to people irrespective of their race, gender, religion, and cultural background. Since its inception, LIFE has distributed over $550 million in humanitarian aid and relief to over 46 countries and increased its support to more than 55 countries. Life works diligently to help the poor and needy in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq, Haiti, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Syria, the U.S., and several other nations. In case of any natural disasters, LIFE rushes to answer the call for help and provides essential humanitarian assistance immediately. Along with emergency relief aid efforts, the non-profit organization also supports areas like education, family and refugee assistance, community development, health, and season help during Ramadan, Udiyah, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The Veteran Leader

Dr. Hany Saqr is the CEO of LIFE. A retired physician and college professor, Dr. Saqr received his Medical Degree from Egypt and completed his Master’s and Ph.D. at Ohio State University, where he took a job as a Scientist and Clinical Assistant Professor.

“For a long time, I have seen the work that LIFE does and saw it as inspiring. One of the specific areas that I really wanted to see grow was the orphan department. Orphans have always had a special place in my heart, and I was excited for the opportunity to lead an organization that helps support orphans around the world.”- Dr. Saqr explains.

Breaking Barriers

One thing that makes LIFE different from other non-profits is its capability to work in 55 countries worldwide. Several countries have certain legalities and political barriers that prevent organizations from working in their area. However, LIFE has worked to break down those barriers and provide aid to the needy. While many organizations focus on specific projects, LIFE focuses on the daily needs of communities, helping to improve their lives by digging water wells, sending medical aid to local hospitals, books, and educational tools to schools, food aid, and clothing to widows, orphans, and the needy.

“LIFE works in 55 countries, each unique with its own political and societal issues. Some countries are experiencing wars, while others are experiencing poverty and economic downfalls. These issues can create a barrier for LIFE when it comes to sending aid and support to countries in these distressing situations.”– explains Dr. Saqr

It is also one of the very few organizations that work to assist the Native American populations in the U.S.

The Dedicated Team

With all poverty and economic issues in the world, LIFE’s team is dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance globally to those in need in 55 countries.

Their fast-paced nature helps LIFE deploy them quickly in case of natural disasters.

“The smiles on the faces of our beneficiaries and the success stories we receive from the field are what keeps us going and passionate about the work we do globally.”- says Dr. Saqr. “At LIFE, we believe that “teamwork makes the dream work,” and each department has their own responsibilities that make our work possible and the organization run smoothly.”

Future Roadmap

Life has grown immensely over the past two years and has expanded its operations in the U.S. and overseas. Currently, the non-profit is spread across all 50 states in the U.S. and has recently registered and opened offices in Yemen, Kenya, Malaysia, and Somalia. It is also working on its registration in Lebanon and the U.K. and exploring expansion in Bosnia and Ukraine.

From leading the marketing for world-class restaurants to mindfulness and coaching with horses.

For Maria, life is about balancing what you are good at, what you love and what makes your soul happy.

Maria, born and raised in Menorca, Spain, is living her best life in Dubai, where she leads the Marketing and PR at Infini Concepts for many popular restaurants, and she combines her job with her passion for healing and mindfulness.

The Mindfulness Part

Maria became an energy healing practitioner (Reiki) to help herself recover from a brain injury, and she not only recovered, but her whole life took a different and positive turn.

Maria does Reiki for people and horses and is certified in Horse Guided Empowerment with MrazMethod. She conducts private and group sessions in Dubai and Spain, helping people find answers with the help of the horses. She also leads international retreats where she works with a selected group of people to connect with themselves through holistic techniques, including Reiki, coaching with horses, sound healing and more.

When Maria recovered from her brain injury, she understood the importance of pursuing dreams while nourishing the soul with what makes people happy.

In our fast-paced world, many people, especially high-level executives, forget to dedicate time to themselves and slow down their ‘fight or flight’ mode. When this happens, people fall ill, shut down their spiritual side, and, in the end, can’t function in a balanced state of life.

Maria believes that her mission is to help people with stressful and demanding jobs recognise that holistic practices and mindfulness are necessary to succeed and thrive in their careers, personal life, and everything in general.

The Marketing Part

As a Marketing Director for Infini Concepts, Maria, specialized on F&B Marketing, manages the marketing and PR activities for 5 brands in Dubai. She also takes part in developing the branding and identity for new projects.

Maria is a resourceful and reliable person with an in-depth understanding of the food & beverage industry with 10 of experience in the UAE and three years of experience in the hospitality industry in Spain.

Her background in F&B Operations gives her a broader idea of how restaurants operate and understand the business from within.

Maria is creative with experience identifying target audiences and devising digital campaigns that engage, inform, and motivate.

Maria manages different teams and is always on top of her game when it comes to market trends.

She enjoys working hard for Infini Concepts as her work is measured on productivity and allows her to combine her job with the holistic part of her.

She believes that working in a place where inclusivity, equality and humanity matter is the core of being very good at your job.

About Infini Concepts

Infini Concepts is a Dubai-based hospitality company with a distinctive focus on uniqueness, creativity, and impeccable attention to detail. The Infini Concepts team’s collective passion for empowering brands and bringing concepts to life has resulted in 15 years of successfully operating, managing, and creating within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s food & beverage industry. Since its inception, Infini Concepts has built an impressive portfolio consulting for renowned brands such as Cé La Vi, Billionaire, Amazónico, and Cirque Le Soir, to name a few. In addition, Infini Concepts currently manages in Dubai own brands such as TABŪ, Miss Tess, Hayal-Flavours of Istanbul, The Other Side, The Unlucky Cat, The Health Co, and King of The Mambo in Sri Lanka.

Maria understands the need to combine the two very different parts of her life to function in a healthy and happy place.

One book:

‘Breaking the habit of being yourself’ by Dr. Joe Dispenza

One quote:

‘Apres l’effort le reconfort’

Jerry Inzerillo: Celebrating heritage and supporting localization to drive tourism’s future

Meet Jerry Inzerillo, the Group CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), who is leading the $50.6 billion effort to re-center Diriyah on the global map as a crossroads of culture, arts, science, and commerce.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jerry entered the hospitality industry as a busboy at the age of 13, where he quickly climbed the ranks to become a titan of the industry. And recently voted ‘’Hotelier of the World’’ by Hotels Magazines.

Jerry has served in a wide range of roles across hospitality and entertainment over his career, including as president of Kerzner Entertainment Group, where he raised the profile and positioning of its properties in South Africa, the Bahamas, Dubai, Morocco, Mauritius, Mexico, the Maldives, as well as conceptualized and positioned the start-up of its One&Only and Atlantis brands.

In his personal life, Jerry has long been involved with philanthropy, especially with respect to children, education, and HIV/AIDS. He was honored with a Knighthood by the Knights of Malta in Rome, Italy, in 1996. Jerry is also a founding advisory board member of the Clinton AIDS initiative.

In June 2018, Jerry was appointed by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to be the founding Group CEO of the newly created DGDA, where he was tasked with developing and implementing a master plan to transform Diriyah, the ancient capital of the First Saudi State.

DGDA is driving the transformation of Diriyah through a range of initiatives, the chief among which is tourism, with the goal to attract approximately 27 million visitors by 2030.

“Diriyah will be the world’s largest mud-brick city, designed in the Najdi architectural style native to the region and using traditional construction methods and materials where possible. This grounds the project in Diriyah’s history and ensures that we are authentically paying tribute to this 300-year-old city,” Mr. Inzerillo said.

Championing Saudization

Jerry has identified that one of the greatest vehicles to raise awareness of Diriyah’s accomplishments is through the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy. First conceived by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Vision 2030’s goal is to transform and elevate Saudi society, while drawing on the huge number of young, talented human capital living in the country to drive this Vision forward.

Diriyah is one of the cornerstone projects of Vision 2030 and as such, Jerry has made it his mission as Group CEO to align DGDA with the Vision’s core tenets, including those around the development and empowerment of Saudi talent.

Upon the Diriyah development’s completion, 55,000 jobs will be created, producing significant opportunities for Saudi Arabia’s population. Under Jerry’s leadership, DGDA has positioned itself at the forefront of encouraging inclusive employment opportunities in line with Vision 2030 Diriyah’s objectives are specifically encouraging the roles and prominence of women and young people within the organization and prioritizing Saudization and ensuring exciting roles for Saudi nationals. Indeed, 85 percent of DGDA’s staff now consists of Saudi nationals, 14 percent of whom are from Diriyah, with more than a third of employees being female and 16 percent of leadership positions occupied by women.

Future roadmap

Jerry is leading DGDA to build a world-class destination, from restaurants and hotels to cultural centers and residential areas.

In the entertainment sector, Diriyah is opening its premium dining district, Bujairi Terrace this year, hosting leading Saudi brands alongside Michelin-starred restaurants. Diriyah has also been host to the Formula E races, major boxing matches, and the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale.

In terms of tourism, Diriyah continues to be a global player. DGDA will be home to a 38-hotel-strong hospitality offering that includes 14 global brands which have already been announced, such as the Four Seasons, Armani, Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood, Six Senses, and many others. Diriyah is also preparing to open the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif to the public permanently for the very first time later this year.

The tourism industry leader said the project was of great significance to Saudi Arabia and the world. “Diriyah’s uniqueness lies in its ability to tangibly connect the destination to its deep-rooted history and cultural past while driving innovation to bring it into the future. Its buildings will be constructed using handmade mud bricks in the traditional Najdi style that is native to the region,” he said.

“We are very excited that our first assets will be ready to open this year, including the historic and spectacular At-Turaif, which will officially welcome guests from around the world for the very first time.”

Balaji Vaidyanathan: Spearheading Strategic Marketing Initiatives

Balaji Vaidyanathan is an integrated marketing specialist with 2 decades of experience in B2B and Consumer Marketing. As Director and Head of Marketing for Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEEMEA) at Franklin Templeton based out of Dubai, Balaji is responsible for building the marketing value proposition, brand, and digital presence, developing the strategic footprint across CEEMEA, performance managing regional teams, focusing on both institutional and retail businesses and driving marketing efforts for global and EMEA strategic projects, amongst other initiatives. Prior to this role, Balaji was with Franklin Templeton in their India office, leading all brand, advertising, investor education, and several other initiatives.

“When I joined Franklin Templeton in India in 2010, I was drawn to it because of its well-respected and established global brand, remarkable heritage, work culture, and other aspirational facets,”- Balaji recalled. “Coming from an Indian company, I saw the opportunity to grow through global exposure and the chance to work with teams across regions and functions. Having studied various aspects of the firm, I believed I had many ideas I could bring to the table, and I sensed that these would be well received.”

Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Franklin Templeton is a global leader in asset management with more than seventy years of experience worldwide. With 1300+ investment professionals spread across 23 countries, Franklin Templeton manages an AUM of $1.3tn, diversified across asset classes, geography, and client type.

Before joining the mutual fund industry, Balaji started his career as a group management trainee with the Aditya Birla Group, where he moved into a marketing role after an initial stint in sales. He was responsible for advertising & brand building, new product launches, managing the creative and media planning agencies, including ATL, communication, sales promotion, etc. After close to 5 years with Aditya Birla Group, Balaji worked with Lotus India Asset Management (now Invesco Mutual Fund) and then Edelweiss Financial Services in various capacities in the domain of marketing.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, London, Balaji holds an MBA in International Business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi. Additionally, he also has a diploma in Digital Marketing from NIIT and the Digital Marketing Institute.

Over the years, Balaji has become an angel investor and a mentor to various- start-ups in the space of deep tech, EdTech, health tech, and sustainability. He is also a part of the Advisory Board (Middle East) for the global CMO Council, which presently has more than 15000 members from senior corporate marketing leaders and brand decision-makers across a wide range of global industries.

Changing Investors’ Mindset

Along with his team, Balaji is constantly striving to create awareness about the benefits of long-term investing. Their initiatives seek to equip investors with an understanding of the importance of planning for their long-term goals, particularly retirement, and make them appreciate the benefits of starting early, investing regularly, and staying invested for the long term to benefit from the power of compounding.

“In this era of easy credit and instant gratification, where everyone seems to be in the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) mode, we need to try to inculcate better savings and investing habits,” Balaji explained. “This entails first setting income aside for investments and then spending what is left rather than investing what is left over after spending. Wealth creation is making one’s money work hard for you, which can only be done through discipline, long-term commitment, and astute planning.”

Key Trends

Balaji feels this is a fascinating and dynamic time due to rapid and exponential technological developments and the constant evolution of customer preferences and expectations. Thanks to AI, data, and analytics, predicting patterns in customer behavior has become much more straightforward, and data-driven marketing strategies have become less of a gamble than before. However, one can’t undermine the contribution of creativity, agility, and innovation to the mix.

A few of the marketing trends Balaji envisage revolves around using web 3.0 and tapping into the potential of the metaverse. “As customer journeys evolve, we will see more brands focusing on an omnichannel approach to influence customers’ decision-making processes, and products and services will offer more hybrid and cohesive customer experiences. We will have to face the challenge that brand loyalty will become a fading concept, and a customer is only as loyal as her last experience with the brand.”- he explained.

Additionally, he feels, Regionalization is another major emerging trend as targeting tier-1 audiences gets saturated. This, alongside deep customization, will be a great brand differentiator, and personalization will become the key to hearts.

Also, User-generated content has ushered in a new era that closes the gap between creators of content and their audiences. As a result, audiences now seek to interact with content and content creators and with each other. This tests a brand’s authenticity like never before but also opens the opportunity to collect valuable insights into target audiences and their preferences.

“From a marketer’s perspective, these are exciting times ahead, and one will need to consistently up his or her game to stay ahead of the curve and ensure their brand is able to become the preferred go-to brand for their customers.”– said Balaji.

Awards and Accolades

Over the years, several prestigious institutions and peers have acknowledged Balaji with various awards and recognition for his work. As a marketing leader, Balaji puts his heart and soul into every campaign he has spearheaded or partnered with, and he always feels a great sense of accomplishment when they meet their mark or help him learn new things.

“At the end of the day, it’s always about the trust you built for your brand amongst customers, the knowledge that your work has helped improve people’s financial futures and helped investors understand the importance of financial planning/ planning for one’s goals,”- he explained. “That is the ultimate satisfaction – when you see the customer had been able to reach her goals in the long term because she believed in your brand and narrative.”

Top 10 Tech Trends for 2023

Nowadays, technology is evolving at a rapid pace, resulting in breakthrough progress and groundbreaking innovations. The world has always been mystified by technological innovations and its potential application. As per MediaPeanut, tech industry development increased by 5-6% every year. Grabbing evolving technologies can make businesses and the world stand out in a competitive edge. Emerging trends in technology refurnish every sector and make people’s lives easier than before. 

In 2022, technologies like data analytics, Metaverse, and Robotic automation were the popular trends in the market which greatly impacted the work and development of IT companies. In this article, we pick the top 10 strategic trends in technology for 2023. 

  • AI and machine learning

AI and machine learning have been the two popular trends in the IT sector in the past few years. AI and its applications have captured almost every industry and business by automating the working process. No-code AI and drag-and-drop interface methods will help businesses and web developers to create more prominent and reliable product services. Machine learning is a subset of AI, which also ensures exciting future opportunities for skilled professionals in this field. According to a Statista report, the global AI market will reach up to half a trillion US dollars by 2023. 

  • Metaverse

Metaverse is one of the popular technology trends that has repeatedly captured people’s attention worldwide. AR and VR technologies are popular technologies in recent times. Tech experts predict that the Metaverse will add $5 trillion to the global economy. Tech giants like Microsoft and Nvidia are collaborating with Metaverse for future digital projects. GenZ youngsters are also showing keen interest and excitement in virtual technology. Many companies are already starting to take training with the Metaverse for sustaining in the AR and VR virtual world. So, basically, 2023 accelerates the metaverse tech and determines the future path of this technology. 

  • Advancement in Web 3

Web 3 is the third generation in the evolution of the web, which can prove as significant in upcoming years. Web 3 browsers are concerned with decentralized applications in Blockchain technology. Many companies in the world today offer decentralized products and services to their customers. Non-fungible tokens will be a useful feature in the Blockchain for 2023. NFTs will be the first step towards the decentralization industry by 2023 because Blockchain is another trend in virtual tech that may revolutionize the future investment and financial sectors.

  • Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is another remarkable trend of technology for 2023. This trend finds application in finance, banking, fraud detection, and many more fields. Quantum computing offers advantages like superposition and quantum entanglement on computer devices. Quantum computing uses the principle of quantum mechanics capable of accelerating the speed of computers a trillion times faster than today’s traditional computers. Tech companies like Google and Microsoft are also taking part in quantum innovation.

  • Progress in Sustainable development

After realizing the seriousness of carbon emissions, world leaders and business tycoons move towards sustainable development. A major step towards a green environment is EVs, as the Rise in manufacturing of EVs in 2022 indicates that people are shifting their choices and needs towards sustainable products. Businesses in the world are making high investments in renewables to produce green and clean energy for the future. It is predicted that by 2024 almost 33 percent of electricity will come from renewable energy sources. 

  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Business leaders and manufacturing industries are constantly focusing on the autonomous system. There are already self-driving cars introduced in the market, which represent the future of automation. Robotic automation will assist businesses in improving their CRM (Customer Relationship Management). RPA is used in companies to train and help employees to improve the quality of work to achieve great outcomes. With the help of AI gadgets and machine learning tools, robots can be proven as excellent replacements for humans in most sectors in the future. 

  • Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things is one of the revolutionary technologies, which allow people to transfer information and data using the internet. Smart computing, phones, and gadgets are useful aspects of IoT. This technology provides security, advanced devices, and efficiency, which makes it promising for future use. Data research shows that by 2025, there will be about 75.44 billion IoT devices. 

  • 3D Printing

One of the popular trends in innovation is 3D Printing which is used to create models and prototypes. 3D Printing is also known as additive manufacturing, which formulates three-dimensional objects by layering method. 3D printing innovation uses AI, machine learning, and modeling. Thus it creates opportunities for developers and AI experts to try something innovative in this field, looking at future aspects. 

  • Genomics

Genomics is related to healthcare technology which specifically studies DNA and genes. This technology carries out gene mapping, gene structure, and genomic sequence, which will help healthcare experts to identify rare diseases. Health issues in our daily lives can also be solved with the help of genomic technology. It’s one of the applications in the forensic study also because it helps to find out criminals using any small biological evidence. So genomics can open several doors of opportunities in the future. 

  • Extended Reality

Extended reality is upheaval in the trends of technology. It comprises Augmented and Virtual reality, which creates the virtual world concept. This technology will greatly bring change in the education, gaming, healthcare, and training sectors. Industries associated with these fields are constantly improving the way and features of technology. The GenZ population is more attracted to this concept of a realistic virtual world. However, many people make opinions that real-world experience can destroy due to this technology. But if we look with a positive perspective it can open endless paths of opportunities in the future.

10 Ways to Improve Customer Onboarding Process

The two key elements in corporate are customer involvement and satisfaction. You may have heard that attracting new clients is more challenging than keeping your current ones satisfied. The business world is evolving significantly. Thus it’s imperative to stand out in terms of attracting consumers in a special way. As customers start using your product, it is important to greet and welcome them to improve future relations and long-term retention. 

Adopting the onboarding process for your peers gives you beneficial outcomes. Providing consumers with the best onboarding experience implies that your brand and customer service will keep them interested in your company for a long time.

Here we look forward to learning more about customer onboarding and ways to improve it for businesses. 

Concept of Customer Onboarding 

Customer onboarding is a process of nurturing new customers while taking the first experience of your product. The first impression of your product in front of the user clearly defines your customer onboarding process. This process runs from the customer’s initial interaction up to the activation and acquisition of your product. In this journey, the priority of a business must be to deliver the best possible experience to new customers by engaging them for a long time. 

Relevance of Customer Onboarding Process 

The world of business is constantly evolving with great advancements. Easy adaptability in any sector is key to success. So, this customer onboarding is one of the tech improvements businesses can easily adapt to achieve their target objectives. Accessible onboarding experience of customers leads to the promotion of your brand value. As a result, it reduces the churning of customers and turns your new prospects into long-lasting customers. That is why onboarding is a two-way process that offers mutual benefits to both customer and owner. 

  • Know your customers

Your customers always engage with your product because you offer them a solution to their problems. Thus, to find out customers’ problems, you must understand them very deeply. Search for customers’ pain points, queries, and problems and try to find an ideal solution. This data helps you to develop an onboarding experience for customers. Knowing a buyer’s persona is the key to offering good service to them. So, by accepting feedback, chatting, and emails, you can easily summarize the needs and approaches of customers. Using that approach, you must design customer onboarding features and services. 

  • Keep constant communication

Effective communication with customers is one of the best practices in the customer onboarding process. After signing in customers for your product, the first best way to start communication is to greet them with a welcome email. Email is the most acceptable medium for reaching up to customers before they sign in to your application. After the complete sign-in process, you can go for the notification on the app to inform updates on your product. Always be in touch with your existing as well as new customers to build a lifetime relationship in a business. 

  • Develop client-focused goals

Fixing client-focused actions and goals reveal the priorities of your business. If your business growth revolves around the fulfillment of customer needs, then it is sure that success is in your hands. The customer-centric focus of business always pulls profitable leads and increases sales and revenue. This type of approach business gains loyalty and trust from customers and also goes ahead of all competitors in the market. Thus, all the satisfaction of customers increases the customer lifetime value for the business, which ensures long-term business relationships. 

  • Define expectations

As a business owner or product designer, you should determine the objectives and goals of your products for target customers. You can clearly understand your consumers’ expectations by setting goals for your product. When a customer knows your defined goals and objectives are positive, then turn toward your product surely. 

  • Use Customer onboarding software

A great onboarding experience can be designed with the help of software and applications. A well-developed software provides you with templates for welcome emails, product presentation tools, and video tools to represent your product service in front of customers. Once you complete your strategic plan and actions of onboarding, then you can go for the software use according to your business needs. 

  • Focus on the needs of customers

If your employees and your business are attentive to customers’ needs and suggestions, then your firm’s growth will be unstoppable. Monitor the needs of customers using different tools and software to make some modifications to the product service. Always keep an eye on feedback to develop your service. It improves the onboarding experience of customers. Representing your first page of a website or software must be well designed with a feedback option that pulls your customer’s attention towards your product service. 

  • Personalize the experience

The onboarding experience of a customer wholly depends upon how you treat and attend to your customers from the first interaction up to your long-term relationship. Giving clients a personalized experience helps them feel valued and satisfied. Training your staff to engage with customer leads is another crucial step. Offer support to every customer individually by mail or by social media. This reflects your customer-centric business model to them. 

  •  Build the relationship

Whether business involves professionalism, building a healthy relationship with your customers is essential. Customers trust relations and loyalty, so if you give them, they will be with you at every moment. Offer help to customers when they need it and wish them on different occasions and on their success. Once customers tap for your service, they feel comfortable using your product. Design a realistic welcome screen to start successful relations with your customers. If you drive your business honestly, you will see a reduced rate of customers churning. 

  • Take follow-ups after onboarding

Taking follow-ups or feedback from users after completing the onboarding process is a must in an online business. They might have questions or queries regarding the use of the product. So be attentive while taking follow-ups from customers. Follow-up action shows your business ethics and value to the client, which also builds customer trust. It gives you results of the onboarding experience of customers, which reflect the engagement period of those customers with your firm. 

  • Design your onboarding process updated and flexible 

The onboarding experience relies upon the accessibility of your product or software. Businesses always have to go from various modifications according to the market needs. So it is important to design your product by adapting to the latest trends in the market. Flexibility while using your product and at the time of review gives a good experience to customers and clients. It assures your customers that your product service fulfills the proper and updated service to them.

How Ed-Tech is Revolutionizing the Education Sector

In a world where technology is advancing daily and topics like big data, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing are gaining paramount importance, it only makes sense that technology is integrated into all areas of society. One of the most critical areas of society is education, which makes educational technology arguably one of the most crucial technology areas today.

That means that Educational Technology startups like UniApp, which aim to support technology-aided education, are of utmost importance. In this article, we discuss educational technology, the hot topics in the field, and how UniApp contributes to the field, among other exciting ideas.

What’s Educational Technology?

Before we talk about the importance of Educational Technology, let’s first define what it is. Educational Technology, often referred to as EdTech, is a field study that focuses on education supported by technology. The field explores the process of analyzing, designing, and developing technologies that can improve the teaching environment and teaching methods at schools and universities, and other educational institutions. These technologies also focus on learning materials, students, and the learning process in general.

A Brief History of EdTech

EdTech was introduced as technologies have been advancing to keep up with innovations in other areas of society. The field has been around for a while, actually, since computers and laptops first started being used to educate students. As the internet was developed and advanced, more and more EdTech topics came to be. Hot topics today include remote learning, which can be known as distance or online learning.

Covid-19 and EdTech

With the Covid-19 Pandemic, there has been a boom in the field of EdTech, and usage has surged beyond previous levels. Education had to adapt to the distances the pandemic created. EdTech technologies quickly rose to the challenge to fill the gap and become sources of learning and communication between students and teachers worldwide.

These technologies truly helped education become more accessible and efficient at a time when there was no other alternative. Even today, as the pandemic fades out of the scene, EdTech is still booming and becoming increasingly popular.

What’s the importance of EdTech?

So we’ve already briefly mentioned why educational technologies are essential today. But let’s talk more about this topic, as there’s so much more to it. Educational technology is critical because it can help professors enhance their learning environments and engage with their students in unique ways. Professors and universities can also quickly expand their professional networks in a way that they couldn’t before. This means they can contact other educators worldwide and learn new things.

Here are some of the main reasons why EdTech is important today:

1. Wide and easily accessed materials

EdTech offers students an extensive array of educational options to choose from. From virtual learning programs to mobile and computer applications, the choices are endless. Students can pick suitable ones based on their own personal needs. They can also develop new skills and enhance their existing ones based on the materials at hand.

2. Fun and engaging learning environment

Another reason why educational technology is important is that it provides a fun and engaging learning environment for students. Professors can connect with students through advanced technologies and retain their attention for extended periods of time. Students can also have fun while learning, improving their entire learning experience. This allows them to stay more motivated when it comes to their studies.

3. Access learning anytime and anywhere

The fact that EdTech allows access to learning anytime and anywhere is a significant plus. Today, no one can live without the internet. That means in today’s world, students should be able to access their learning material through the internet whenever possible. This means they can do their assignments at their own pace and get their work done. Online degree programs allow students to learn online from the comfort of their own homes and at their own pace.

Hybrid programs, programs where students can attend both on-campus and online during the course of their degrees, are also rising in popularity. These programs make learning more flexible and accessible so more students can learn. This means that students can connect with their professors and peers at any time and access the information they need to learn properly.

What’s the next big thing in Educational technology?

So, what’s the next big thing in Educational Technology? With all the advancements happening in the field, what are the trends that we should keep our eyes peeled for in the coming years? Actually, there are a few hot topics in the field that are currently emerging or will emerge shortly. In this section, we discuss some of these topics so you can stay ahead of the game.

1. Virtual Tutoring

One of the hot new topics is Virtual tutoring. These might be augmented experiences for students who have fallen behind in class and need some extra help. Or it may be for students who want to take an entire course virtually with a tutor. Virtual tutoring is expected to expand in the coming years. This will be through combining virtual tutoring and human tutoring in one place to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the learning experience.

2. Immersive Learning

Another topic to watch out for is immersive learning. This immersive learning will be introduced through the areas of Augmented Reality, AR, and Virtual Reality, VR. AR is a technology area that adds digital information to the real-world environment, while VR creates a whole new virtual or artificial environment. Introducing these two concepts into the educational system has made a pretty big boom.

Immense changes are taking place, creating an immersive learning experience. Instead of simply doing experiments in the lab, students can view augmented versions of objects on their mobile devices. As time goes on, the trends of AR and VR in EdTech will make learning a completely different experience than it ever was.

3. Gamification

Third, Gamification is a majorly hot topic in the field that will become one of the next big things. Gamification is, in the simplest terms, turning education into a game by adding game elements. It has already increased in popularity as it allows students to become more engaged. Gamification is used in many ways, like leaderboards, rewards systems, and more. These techniques have started to be applied in the field of education technology. These techniques will continue to increase in popularity as they increase the motivation and participation of students.

Why is EdTech a game-changer?

So you might now be asking yourself, why is EdTech a game-changer? One thing’s for sure is that it is currently changing, and will change, education in many ways for students and professors alike.

First, education Technology is an excellent way to bridge communication gaps, whether they are between professors and students or students and their peers. The rapid evolution of EdTech technologies has helped increase the knowledge flow among all members of the scholarly society.

EdTech also removes barriers that differentiate a physical learning environment from virtual ones. It creates a virtual community where students can easily communicate with teachers and students in real-time, no matter where in the world they are. Students can also make up virtual groups to work on projects and hand in project and assignment submissions. They can also get feedback on them as if they are in a physical classroom.

How does UniApp contribute to Educational Technology?

Finally, you might be asking yourself about the up-and-coming EdTech startups today. One of the major ones is UniApp. UniApp is a Frankfurt-based EdTech that was founded in 2021 with a mission to encourage international education. This online platform aims to simplify the application process for students, whether they are first-time students or those who aim to acquire more educational degrees. With the application, universities, students and agents can communicate together, and the whole college application process can be streamlined.

International students, in particular, can benefit from using the application. It can help them apply for more than 50,000 study programs across the European continent and worldwide. Users can upload their documents and academic reports and then easily apply for several university degrees simultaneously. UniApp also has an Artificial-Intelligence-based search engine that offers students suggestions for courses based on their interests. The application also aims to help from the universities and agents. They can enter the information they want about their programs, including costs and visa requirements so that everything is clear for students. It’s truly a win-win situation for all who are involved!

Technology, change in business strategies

Ten23 health® was founded in 2021 and acquired swissfillon in October 2021 and had rapid growth since then. The global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) in Switzerland announced in September 2022 the completion of the superstructure of the new sterile manufacturing facility.

The existing FDA- and Swissmedic-inspected facility of ten23 health’s swissfillon in Visp already offers sterile manufacturing of pre-filled syringes, vials, and cartridges for clinical trial and commercial supplies, in close collaboration with ten23 health’s development center in Basel.

The new building, purpose-built for ten23 health, includes two further sterile manufacturing lines. Line 2 will produce large commercial quantities for market supply after regulatory approval of the drug. As a true scaled-up version of our existing filling line 1, the transfer between the lines will be associated with less risk for our biopharma customers. The fill line will be based on the latest Isolator technology to increase the safety of the drugs for patients. It will focus on complex products, filled into RTU containers including syringes, cartridges and special primary packaging such as used in specific administration devices for subcutaneous delivery. Fill line 3 will broaden ten23 health’s offering to also process bulk containers (vials), both in liquid and lyophilized form, with two large-scale freeze-driers, each at 12.5 square meters of shelf-space for clinical and commercial use.

ten23 health continues to hire additional colleagues to support the new production lines.  A unique feature of the new facility is photovoltaic façade, covering the complete building exteriors, and being able to provide 45’000 kW per year. ten23 health facilities in Basel and Visp already operate with 100% renewable energy, consistent with our commitment to the planet.

Prof. Dr. Hanns-Christian Mahler, CEO of ten23 health, commented: “The completion of the initial phase of construction is a major milestone for ten23 health, our customers and their patients, and towards providing a significant amount of capacity for commercial and clinical sterile medicines for patients. In addition to securing renewable energy for the facility, we are investing in photovoltaics across the whole façade. We are excited to continue building ten23 health into a leading sustainable contract development and manufacturing worldwide.”

More about ten23 health

ten23 health®, located in Basel, Switzerland, is the human-centric and sustainable strategic partner of choice for the pharmaceutical industry and biotech start-ups: we develop, manufacture, and test modern medicines. We support our clients in developing differentiated, stable, usable, and safe injectable treatment options for patients. Swissfillon, located in Visp, Switzerland, is a world leader in the sterile production of complex pharmaceutical dosage forms and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ten23 health.

ten23 health combines the latest scientific findings with proven and tested world-class industry and regulatory expertise to forge new paths for supporting clients. We provide our innovative services in a fair and sustainable manner, respecting people’s health and the future of our planet. ten23 health is solidly financed through the long-term commitment of 3i Group, an internationally reputable equity partner.

About the company’s name

The numeric value for the number of molecules in a sample of one mol is called the Avogadro constant and equals 6.022 * 10 23. The world is built from small units, and not a homogeneous mass.

Cory Willness: An Adept Leader Integrating Advanced AgTech Solutions with Exceptional Experience

An enthusiastic leader, Cory Willness, the CEO and Co-founder of Croptimistic Technology, best known for their product SWAT MAPS, pursued his agronomy degree in 1996 at the University of Saskatchewan. Cory spent eight of his early years as an agronomist in agriculture retail. He then started a consulting company called CropPro Consulting in 2003, which he is proud to say, is still operating today. This gave him the experience and courage he needed to open Croptimistic often referred to as SWAT MAPS, an AgTech (agriculture technology) company in 2018 with his wife Shannon (Founder) and Derek Massey (Founder and CTO).

About SWAT MAPS

“Unlock Your Soil Potential with SWAT MAPS”

SWAT MAPS (Soil, Water, And Topography) is now the world’s most well-known and respected brand of high-resolution soil maps. They are the pillar of a successful variable-rate fertilizer and seed program used by farmers to maximize their profitability and environmental sustainability. Croptimistic has now evolved so much that there is a SWAT ECOSYSTEM which is a collection of hardware, software, training, and support that enables service providers and farmers to simply and easily execute the service at the ground level.

Cory’s experience and knowledge of farming has allowed the creation of this SWAT ECOSYSTEM. He is adamant many improvements can be made to traditional ways of farming and most of these are enabled by developing technology today. Croptimistic’s Global Partner Network is proud to have partnered with service providers around the world to bring the SWAT MAPS to farmers all across the globe.

Croptimistic is supported by a growing team of professionals who have dedicated their careers to developing the best soil mapping software and hardware in the world.

Unleashing the steps of the SWAT ECOSYSTEM

  • The Foundation

The foundation is a crucial part of the SWAT ECOSYSTEM. It offers education, support, and software needed to become a SWAT CERTIFIED service provider. The foundation ensures every step of the SWAT ECOSYSTEM works seamlessly and provides the farmers with the same experience.

  • Soil Potential

Everything starts in the soil. By becoming a SWAT MAPS service provider, the company will help execute the process to help the farmers unlock their soil potential today.

  • Yield Potential

Crop variability is influenced by the stable soil properties captured by a SWAT MAP, the Soil Potential portion of the process must be completed before the yield potential process can begin.

  • Opportunity

Becoming a SWAT MAPS service provider means offering the farmers the best variable rate field mapping system on the market. The company’s team of experts will provide the tools needed to succeed, every step of the way.

AgTech Startups marking their Presence

The AgTech space has received considerable attention in recent years from investors and entrepreneurs. However, in Cory’s opinion, less than 10% of startups have a chance of surviving. It is a very complex space, most single-point products or features will have incredibly complicated integration issues. There are also dozens of people working in the same space and it is very competitive. Startups are relatively new to farmers and agronomists so it is not top of mind. “Building something of value is of the upmost importance to me.”

Experiencing Transformation in the AgTech Industry

Automation, robotics, machine control, artificial intelligence, and satellites are all transformational technologies. However, the less exciting part – low cost, low risk, better process, solid structure, ease of workflow, consistency, and execution are all required to implement any of these innovations.

A Cut-Throat Viewpoint on AgTech Trends

Cory states that emerging trends don’t feel like trends when one lives in them every day. Every year there is some new buzzword. Five years ago it was “big data” and that has died a quick death. Now it is “carbon” and “regenerative agriculture”. Cory feels trends are mostly buzzwords until someone executes them commercially and it is operational.

A Take on the COVID-19 Scenario

Cory states, “I can’t speak for others but it hurt international growth opportunities. There are only so many virtual meetings we can do when our products are used in fields and we need to do a demo with a client. Thankfully, we were working fully remote before covid so our business was not affected on a large scale”

Overcoming Hurdles

The biggest challenge is building an ecosystem of products that work and that farmers and agronomists love. When tackling complex issues with many different touch points it is hard to stay focused on what can be built that everyone can use.

Communication and documentation has improved greatly. The communication systems we have put in place over the years allows is to know exactly what is happening at all times and knowing that high-tech plans and applications are being executed is excellent for the peace of mind.

Times of Triumph

SWAT MAPS has won many recognizable awards such as the best new product at Manitoba Ag Days, the Agrology Excellence Award by the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, and the Innovations Award at Ag In Motion.

Standing Tall amongst All

The team at SWAP MAPS just keeps working ahead with the strategy the staff, partners, and farmers believe are needed to execute the best precision AgTech-based program possible. execute the process to help the farmers unlock their soil potential today. feels trends are mostly buzzwords until someone executes them commercially and it is operational.

Climbing the Ladder of Success

SWAT MAPS will be the number 1 service provider of variable-rate technology in Canada and will have a strong, growing presence as a respected leader in USA and Australia. As an innovative AgTech company, SWAP MAPS aims to be the world’s most recognized and respected brand of soil mapping-based technology.

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