Irish Ed-Tech company Olive Group has launched a new partnership with Microsoft that will see potentially thousands of teachers and students in Dublin benefitting from access to high-end, quality, interactive and digital content. The launch of the new Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) app in Microsoft Teams as part of a joint initiative with Microsoft Ireland. Launched from within the Microsoft Teams application, Olive VLE is an intuitive software platform that delivers a wide range of interactive digital content, enabling a more user-centric learning experience for up to 145 million global Microsoft Teams users. By making it easier for teachers and educators in Dublin to develop interactive material, students and learners will benefit from this new partnership. The total student population in Ireland is just under 1.1 million and this new Irish developed technology has the potential to transform hybrid and blended learning for them.
Commenting on the announcement, Brendan Kavanagh, CEO, Olive Group said, “We’re very excited to extend the reach of Olive VLE to up to 145 million Microsoft Teams users across the world. Collaborating with Microsoft Ireland has allowed us to deploy a purpose-built learning experience that will resonate with digital natives – the swipers, scrollers, and touch screen aficionados of the world.
“Students and teachers are accustomed to consuming content as part of a seamless user experience via platforms such as Spotify, Netflix and Tiktok. Until now, an educational counterpart has been lacking. We are targeting savvy online learners who want the collaborative energy of the classroom, in a virtual setting, as well as an enhanced learning experiences that are accessible 24/7.”
Professor Kevin Marshall, Head of Education for Microsoft Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Olive Group – a company that is on the cutting edge of EdTech. The team has a firm appreciation of what digital natives are looking for from a learning and engagement perspective. Catering to evolving user demands requires big picture thinking, and Olive Group has a proven track record of delivering eLearning solutions that are easily deployable, customisable and user-friendly. Olive VLE delivers high-quality digital content that is learner-centric and outcome driven, while also facilitating more dynamic student-tutor engagement and more efficient digital assessments.”
Pictured: Brendan Kavanagh CEO Olive Group and Professor Kevin Marshall from Microsoft
