What are possible ways for edtech companies to build their products in the MENA region?
Understanding the pain points can definitely come from customer/user research, like what most tech startups/businesses do. However, when it comes to education, the good thing is that it's a science as much as it's an art, so an edtech leader can benefit from the richness of literature on the subject, founded on evidence-based research.
A few topics/resources to consider:
1. MENA (and the Global South) still suffers from a digital divide (i.e. unreliable internet, lack of access to devices, etc.). My favorite book on the subject is "The Digital Divide" https://lnkd.in/dXjTmQEq, which details the socioeconomic implications of digital inequality, including education.
2. How do we tackle the digital divide as edtech leaders/entrepreneurs? I recommend looking at the work of the Christensen Institute (https://lnkd.in/d2KTexRj), and the Blended Learning Universe (https://lnkd.in/d-Rt-rgT), which has a plethora of resources on how to develop solutions for the Global South and design digital and blended learning experiences in different contexts.
3. I would also follow the work of Dr. Maha Bali, who continuously writes about best practices, latest trends as well as how to contextualize them https://blog.mahabali.me/
Appreciate the mention!