LEARNTEC trade fair in Karlsruhe: Digitalization of education and training
It is a unique success story. What began almost three decades ago as a modest gathering of a few dozen education pioneers is now a globally recognized industry show of superlatives. For the 28th edition of LEARNTEC, Messe Karlsruhe will once again be the secret epicenter of the world of digital learning for three days starting on January 28, 2020.
410 exhibitors from over a dozen nations will be presenting their products and services relating to the key topic of e-learning in two exhibition halls covering an area of almost 20,000 square meters. There will also be a supporting program with numerous specialist presentations and activities for visitors.
“This time, the two halls are fully booked for the first time. We have thus once again confirmed our position as the largest and most important European trade fair for digital learning,” says project manager René Naumann from the organizer Messe Karlsruhe, pleased with the positive response to the special show. Since the first edition of LEARNTEC in 1992, the number of visitors to the congress trade fair has increased continuously. In 2019, around 11,600 people made their way to the exhibition grounds in Rheinstetten.
technika meets karlsruhe.digital: Joint stand of Karlsruhe players
Together with technika, the Karlsruhe technology initiative, karlsruhe.digital is organizing a stand at this year’s LEARNTEC where everything revolves around promoting the technology and IT skills of schoolchildren. The “technika meets karlsruhe.digital” stand will showcase the wide range of STEM education on offer in Karlsruhe – from third grade to university, there is something for everyone in the fan-shaped city.
Image: EFFEKTE, Jürgen Rösner
The variety of offers in Karlsruhe can also be seen at the joint stand. Pupils from primary and secondary schools in Karlsruhe will be showing projects and models that they have developed in robotics clubs. A team of students from Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences will be presenting an app they developed themselves, which primary school children can use to learn safe online behavior in a playful way.
In addition to the KIT with its House of Little Researchers, the TechnoTHEK of the Children’s and Youth Library and the VHS Karlsruhe will also be present at the stand with offers on the subject of digital education.
Image: EFFEKTE, Jürgen Rösner
A look into the future of digital learning
At this year’s LEARNTEC, the focus will once again be on innovative offerings for the further training of employees in companies and the digitalization of school lessons. New this year is the Future Lab, where visions of the future of digital learning will be presented for three days.
“There is an incredible amount of movement in the field of e-learning. It’s worth taking a look into the future,” emphasizes Naumann. Visitors to the trade fair will also receive specialist input in the conference area at the numerous presentations on the industry’s key topics.
Image: Messe Karlsruhe / Behrendt und Rausch
Digital Pact makes its presence felt at LEARNTEC
Naumann expects the trend towards digital learning to continue in the coming years.
“Due to the constantly changing conditions in the modern working world, the topic of training will continue to occupy companies for a very long time,” says Naumann, and there is therefore enormous growth potential in the market for digital learning.
“Large corporations have long recognized that they need to provide their employees with variable training opportunities,” says Naumann. In the meantime, the trend towards intuitive digital applications and away from costly and time-consuming classroom training has also reached SMEs. In Naumann’s opinion, however, there is still room for improvement when it comes to the digitalization of the education system.
“But the digital market is also making itself felt at our trade fair. There are now many offers for the digitalization of education,” says Naumann, referring to the wide range of LEARNTEC products and services.
Image: Messe Karlsruhe / Behrendt und Rausch
Planning for LEARNTEC 2021 already in full swing
Even before the official kick-off of this year’s trade fair, planning for the 29th LEARNTEC from January 26 to 28, 2021 is already in full swing. LEARNTEC will then take place for the first time in three exhibition halls in Karlsruhe. “We already have a lot of registrations, which is why we want to bundle the offers for the digitalization of schools in the dm Arena,” says Naumann. Setting up the trade fair in particular will be a logistical challenge, as the set-up for the athletics events organized by Karlsruher Marketing und Event (KME) GmbH has been taking place at the same time as LEARNTEC for several years now.