By Guayente Sanmartin, Global Head of Commercial Systems and Displays Solutions, HP Inc.
Education plays an important role in shaping the future and unlocking human potential. But in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the global education crisis has escalated.
As schools closed and classrooms went remote, one-third of the world’s school-age children were unable to access remote learning. Today, 260 million students are being left out of education every year, and a projected shortage of 69 million teachers by 2030 will significantly impact quality education.
At HP, we believe it is our collective responsibility to act and address the challenges of learning poverty, while also forging a path towards more equitable and inclusive education for everyone.
Today, we are proud to announce HP Futures, a leadership initiative that fosters and promotes innovative thinking to shape a more resilient, equitable future for education. Developed in partnership with the Global Learning Council (GLC), HP Futures is a multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary network comprised of more than 100 international thought leaders across the entire education sector – from academia and government to business and civil society. We are excited to welcome participants like Vongai Nyahunzvi, Chief Network Officer at Teach for All, and Mubuso Zamchiya, Managing Director for Age of Learning Foundation.
“Education is the foundation of progress, and HP’s continued commitment to bridging the global education gap sets a new standard for those striving to shape a more inclusive and equitable future,” said Subra Suresh, President & Founder, GLC. “We are proud to partner with HP to drive this transformative change.”
As part of the HP Futures initiative, we are focusing on five critical areas aligning with industry developments and global events. Over time, members will share reports with leaders across the education ecosystem highlighting actionable recommendations, while identifying how and where technology can play a core role in addressing these challenges.
Additionally, HP is partnering with GLC to host an AI Hackathon to test the accuracy of AI-generated content for education and explore how it can be used as both a learning and teaching tool. With 89 percent of students admitting they have already used ChatGPT to assist with homework1, we recognize the potential of AI to support better educational outcomes.
The time to address learning poverty and provide greater access to technology to solve the global education crisis is now. But we can’t do this alone. Only through collective efforts and collaboration can we transform education and create a more empowering, inclusive world.
To learn more about HP’s digital equity in education efforts, visit https://www.hp.com/us-en/hp-information/sustainable-impact/community.html.