We are pleased to invite you to an inspiring morning where we will explore how improving the quality of education can:

• Drive economic growth

• Improve healthcare services

• Contribute to solving global challenges such as the climate crisis

The conference is a collaboration between the Norwegian National Advisory Board for Impact Investing (NorNAB), the International Centre for EdTech Impact, and Laerdal.

Program:

09:00–09:05
Welcome
Trond Ingebretsen, Chair, International Center for EdTech Impact
Gudleik Njå, CEO, Laerdal

09:05–09:35
Address by Minister of Education Kari Nessa Nordtun

09:35–10:05
How to Scale Quality Education in Health Care?
Ingrid Lærdal, Laerdal Global Health

10:05–10:30
Break

10:30–10:55
Evidence Pays: Why Proof of Impact Drives EdTech Success
Libby Hills, Senior Advisor, Jacobs Foundation

10:55–11:15
How Does the International Centre for EdTech Impact Support Global Impact Investors in Education?
Professor Natalia Kucirkova, Executive Director, International Centre for EdTech Impact

11:15–11:50
Panel Discussion: The Future of Education and Evidence-Based Innovation

11:50–11:55
Closing Remarks
Gudleik Njå, CEO, Laerdal

Background for the Conference:
Research shows a strong positive correlation between education quality and economic growth (several studies by, among others, Professor Eric Hanushek).

Key findings:

• Improved quality of education contributes to higher productivity and individual returns.

• There is a stronger link between education quality and economic growth than between quantitative education indicators and growth.

• A 1% difference in adult literacy between countries can result in a 2.5% difference in labor productivity and a 1.5% difference in GDP per capita.

Despite the obvious importance of education, the sector continues to see underinvestment. Possible reasons include:

• Political short-termism: Education is a long-term investment, while political cycles are often short-term.

• Lack of immediate results: The impact of education investments may take time to materialize.

• Measurement complexity: Demonstrating direct causal links between education investments and economic growth can be challenging.

How can we address this?
The key lies in long-term thinking, technology, quality criteria for digital solutions, and the development of problem-solving skills.

Date: May 5, 2025
Time: 09:00 - 12:00
Location: Laerdal Medical, Creative Hall, Tanke Svilandsgate 32, Stavanger, and virtually

We look forward to an inspiring morning focused on how education can shape our shared future.
Sign up now to secure your spot!