Technology

Education agencies turning to SAS to measure learning loss and recovery

Published

3 years ago

May 22, 2023

Virginia joins growing number of states using analytics and data to better support teachers and accelerate student learning

CARY, N.C., May 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The key to measuring learning loss and the effectiveness of recovery efforts, and to understanding student growth trends, is data. Education agencies nationwide are turning to analytics leader SAS to help them analyze assessment data to understand the struggles and successes of different grades, subjects and student groups.

“With data, states can show how they used once-in-a-lifetime funding to positively impact all students.”

SAS has been at the forefront of student growth measurement for 20 years, and its solutions are used around the US to help educators better understand students’ strengths and weaknesses to differentiate instruction. The Commonwealth of Virginia recently chose SAS® to help accelerate learning recovery for students set back by the pandemic.

The commonwealth recently launched Virginia’s Visualization and Analytics Solution (VVAAS), a web-based tool built by SAS that displays measures of students’ academic growth over time, diagnostic reports for student groups, and student projections to help educators improve student achievement. The Virginia Department of Education is training over 800 school division staff members to access, navigate, understand and use the information to best meet student needs, target remediation efforts and strategically utilize resources.

Additionally, states such as Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina and North Dakota have created in-depth learning loss reports with help from SAS. For example, SAS provided the analysis behind the recent North Carolina Recovery Analysis Report, which showed signs of academic recovery. The analysis showed that students tended to perform closer to pre-pandemic expectations on 2022 assessments than on 2021 assessments, with the expectations established based on students’ testing data from prior to the pandemic. This recovery trend was noted for nearly every assessment included in the analysis, with the strongest recovery evident in math.

Idaho is also exploring learning loss with SAS, and the City of Newark, NJ, is measuring student learning trends with similar models.

Student-level data helps drive learning acceleration

The Hunt Institute and SAS hosted a series of meetings of chief state school officers and staff to share learning loss and recovery strategies and best practices. The common theme? Data.

“Investing in robust data collection systems will ensure that states and districts can be responsive to student needs, react quickly to future crisis scenarios and evaluate the efficacy of programs,” said The Hunt Institute President and CEO Dr. Javaid Siddiqi.

Nearly a dozen states, with data representing millions of students, are using SAS to measure COVID-19 learning loss at the district, school and individual student levels.

In this approach, students are compared to themselves. These statistical approaches are used to predict how students would have scored on assessments absent the pandemic. By comparing those results to the expected scores and assessing how students performed versus how they were expected to perform, one can aggregate results at the school, district and student group levels.

Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina and North Dakota were able to gain greater insights into how different student groups fared during the pandemic and gauge the impact of in-person, hybrid and remote instruction. These findings use all available assessment data, not just a sample. The results provide districts and states with valuable data for teachers as they return to the classroom to make decisions on targeted interventions for individual students and student groups.

As states enact learning recovery strategies, having this level of understanding will help them identify what is working and what is not, and more confidently alter strategies when necessary. SAS is already helping states monitor recovery efforts. Tracking recovery data will also be critical when reporting on the use of federal learning loss funds.

“The federal government has poured billions of dollars into learning recovery, and states are already being asked to account for how that money was spent,” said Dr. Melody Schopp, former South Dakota Secretary of Education and current Director of Education Industry Consulting at SAS. “Equipped with a trove of valuable learning loss data, states can understand their own unique challenges and more effectively improve learning strategies to show how they used once-in-a-lifetime funding to positively impact all students.”

For more information on how SAS works to combat learning loss and drive recovery, visit SAS’ learning loss page at sas.com/learningloss.

About SAS
SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2023 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contact:
Trent Smith
Trent.Smith@sas.com
919-531-4726
sas.com/news

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SOURCE SAS

Technology

Haier Announces Global Partnership with UEFA Champions League

Published

24 minutes ago

September 4, 2026

New brand building milestone deepens Haier’s global consumer connections

BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Haier, the world’s No.1 major home appliances brand, today announced a global partnership with UC3, under which Haier will become a Global Partner of the UEFA Champions League from the 2027/28 season through the 2030/31 season.

The four-year partnership, running from July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2031, grants Haier exclusive worldwide rights in the home appliances, televisions and commercial display screens categories across a range of UEFA club competitions, including the UEFA Champions League.

More than a commercial sponsorship, the collaboration outlines Haier’s transition from a globally recognized appliances company towards developing a deeper relationship with consumers worldwide.

“This partnership represents a key milestone in Haier’s global brand strategy,” said Wang Meiyan, Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of Haier Group. “The UEFA Champions League brings together millions of fans around the world through a shared pursuit of excellence. Through this collaboration, we aim to bring the passion and spirit of champions closer to consumers’ everyday life, creating new possibilities through intelligent technologies.”

“We are delighted to welcome Haier as a new global partner of the UEFA Champions League. Its international presence, ability to innovate and ambition to create increasingly relevant experiences for people make Haier an ideal partner for the competition. Together, we aim to develop new opportunities to engage fans around the world and bring them even closer to our competitions, while celebrating the emotion, excellence and sense of belonging that make European football unique,” said Guy-Laurent Epstein Co-Managing Director, UC3.

From Global Recognition to Global Connection

Upon entering international markets in 1991, Haier was among the earliest Chinese companies to pursue global growth by building its own brands rather than relying on product exports. Over the decades, Haier has established a strong local presence across more than 200 countries and regions, with leading positions in over 30 markets.

This global presence is supported by a network of 10 R&D centers, 35 industrial parks and 173 manufacturing centers worldwide. By combining global capabilities with local insights, Haier develops products, solutions and experiences tailored to consumers’ diverse needs across markets.

This approach has driven sustained global recognition. Haier has ranked as the world’s No.1 major appliances brand by retail volume for 17 consecutive years and has been recognized among the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for eight consecutive years.

Building on this track record, Haier will continue to strengthen its presence in premium markets while developing brands, products and solutions that respond to evolving consumer expectations and create new possibilities for intelligent living.

Leading Through Technology, Connecting Through Sports

Technology has long been a key driver of Haier’s global development. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into products, connected scenarios and smart living ecosystems, Haier is expanding from individual product innovation towards more integrated experiences across the home.

The interconnection between technological development in everyday lives and the cultural centrality of sport provides a powerful platform for closer relationships with consumers. For more than two decades, Haier has developed a global sports partnership portfolio spanning leading football clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool Football Club, as well as major international sporting events including the Australian Open and Roland-Garros.

Over the years, Haier’s sports marketing has evolved from building brand visibility to creating deeper consumer connections through global sports partnerships and locally relevant experiences. Beyond football and established international sporting events, Haier has expanded its sports portfolio across markets, including badminton, marathon running, cricket and basketball.

The partnership with UEFA club competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Youth League Finals and UEFA Futsal Champions League Finals, represents the next stage of this journey. By bringing together the passion and excellence of elite football with the possibilities of intelligent living, Haier aims to create experiences that extend beyond the stadium and become part of consumers’ everyday lives.

Unveiled during IFA 2026 in Berlin, one of the world’s leading consumer electronics and home appliance exhibitions, the partnership reinforces Haier’s commitment to building stronger connections with consumers worldwide. Together with the UEFA Champions League, Haier will connect the spirit of champions with intelligent living, creating new experiences for consumers and fans around the world.

ABOUT HAIER GROUP

Founded in 1984, Haier Group is a leading global provider of better life and digital transformation solutions, with the purpose of “More Creation, More Possibilities”. The company has established 10 R&D centers, 35 industrial parks and 173 manufacturing centers, achieving a global revenue of USD 59.8 billion in 2025. Haier has been ranked in the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for 8 consecutive years. Additionally, Haier has held the No.1 position in Euromonitor International Global Major Appliances Brand for 17 consecutive years. Haier has 8 listed companies, with its subsidiary Haier Smart Home named among the Fortune Global 500 and Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies.

ABOUT UC3

UC3 unites European football’s governing body UEFA and European Football Clubs (EFC), representing more than 800 top European clubs, around a new vision for managing commercial rights to UEFA club competitions (the “UCCs”). It is the commercial entity responsible for generating revenues from the UCCs and creating value for our partners. UC3 oversees the management, sales and delivery of all commercial rights (including media, sponsorship and licensing rights) for UEFA’s elite men’s and women’s club competitions.

SOURCE Haier Group

Technology

Aurzen Introduces “Unfold the Art,” a New Creative Chapter Inspired by Basquiat for Portable Projection

Published

24 minutes ago

September 4, 2026

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Aurzen today announced “Unfold the Art,” a new creative collection inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat, bringing the brand’s portable projection vision into closer dialogue with art, design, and everyday living. By combining Aurzen’s design-led approach to portable devices with Basquiat’s bold visual energy, the initiative marks the beginning of a long-term platform dedicated to exploring new expressions across art, space, and modern lifestyle.

Known for making portable projection easier to carry, place, and enjoy across different environments, Aurzen sees this special collection as a natural extension of its design philosophy. With “Unfold the Art,” the brand connects portable technology with a stronger visual point of view and a more expressive sense of atmosphere.

The collection draws on a shared belief that everyday objects can be both functional and emotionally resonant. Aurzen’s clean, flexible design language meets the raw energy, layered symbolism, and unmistakable immediacy associated with Basquiat’s iconic visual world, creating a project shaped by contrast, expression, and personality.

“Aurzen has always believed technology should feel easy to live with and meaningful to experience,” said Jason Zhang, Senior Director of Product at Aurzen. “Through this collection inspired by Basquiat, we are exploring a more expressive side.”

Designed to grow beyond a single launch moment, “Unfold the Art” will evolve as a broader creative story. Future expressions will build on this foundation, exploring how portable projection can feel more personal, more visual, and more culturally alive in the home.

For Aurzen, this initiative reflects a commitment to shaping not only how projection performs, but how it looks and feels in everyday living spaces, where useful technology and artistic inspiration can naturally coexist.

This project was done in collaboration with Artestar, a global licensing agency and creative consultancy representing world-renowned visual artists, estates, and foundations. Artestar conceptualizes and develops some of the world’s most iconic brand partnerships across an array of categories and geographic regions, all while preserving and elevating each artist’s unique legacy. Through strategic planning and thoughtful curation, Artestar powers creative collaborations to make art accessible to everyone. Learn more at artestar.com.

About Aurzen

Aurzen is a global innovator in smart projection technology. By combining advanced optical engineering with intuitive software and user-focused design, Aurzen delivers products that bring big-screen experiences to any space. The company pioneered the world’s first Tri-Fold Truly Portable Projector, ZIP, and its designs have been recognized with multiple international awards, including the iF Design Award, Red Dot Award, G-Mark Award, and IDEA Award. For more information, visit www.aurzen.com.

About JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

Jean-Michel Basquiat stands as one of the most influential artists of his generation and is widely regarded as a defining figure of 20th-century art. Though his career lasted less than a decade, it transformed contemporary art and continues to shape culture today.

Basquiat’s art is raw, charged with energy, and fiercely original. With a fearless approach to color and composition, he balanced opposing forces with control and spontaneity, menace and humor, urban grit and primal expression. His work embraced a fusion of media, incorporating painting, drawing, and collage. The surfaces of his canvases teem with language and coded imagery: words, numbers, symbols, diagrams, and pictograms merge with fragments of popular culture, history, and personal iconography. His multi-panel constructions, exposed stretcher bars, and dense overlays of text and imagery became hallmarks of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s inimitable style, positioning him as a true innovator who blurred boundaries between fine art and street culture.

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SOURCE Aurzen Official

Technology

ECOVACS Robotics Unveils Next Generation of Intelligent Cleaning at IFA 2026

Published

24 minutes ago

September 4, 2026

BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As ECOVACS unveils the next generation of intelligent cleaning at IFA, Forbes Asia has recognised ECOVACS as the ‘Global No. 1 Home Robotics Brand’, acknowledging the company’s leadership across multiple categories from floor care to windows, lawns, and pools. Its products are currently used across 38 million households in nearly 180 markets, demonstrating ECOVACS’ successful expansion and innovation trajectory.

“Launching into the UK and Irish markets earlier this year was a huge milestone for us,” said Graham Mitchell, Head of Sales, UK and Ireland. “From day one, our goal has been to give people the freedom from daily chores and the latest innovations revealed at IFA represent the next generation of cleaning, delivering power, innovation and seamless integration to UK and Irish homes”.

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES AT IFA

DEEBOT X12S OmniCyclone: Features industry-leading suction, built-in AGENT YIKO 3.0 AI assistant helping consumers create automated routines that fit their lifestyle, and an auto-empty station eliminating bag costs and allergen exposure. RRP: £1,199. Available 9th September

DEEBOT T90S PRO OMNI: Combines 27cm self-cleaning OZMO Roller with 40,000 Pa suction and superior hygiene technology preventing residue build-up and reducing odours. RRP: £699. Available 24th September

DEEBOT T90 MAX PRO OMNI: Boasts flagship mopping technology at an accessible price point, 40,000 Pa suction, and slim 95mm design for under-furniture access. RRP: £549, 9th September

All three DEEBOT models feature industry leading OZMO Roller 3.0 mopping system, upgraded AI navigation, enhanced OMNI stations with self-cleaning technology, and powerful suction (27,000-40,000 Pa) capturing fine dust and pet hair.

WINBOT W2S PRO OMNI: Window-cleaning robot with TruEdge 2.0 edge-to-edge coverage and three-nozzle spray technology delivering 46% improved efficiency. WIN-SLAM 4.0 navigation enables safe cleaning up to 75m² per fill with 12-step protection. RRP: £529. Available from 9th September

All models to be available through Amazon and major UK retailers including Argos, Currys, and Very.

2027 INNOVATIONS

ECOVACS previewed upcoming launches including the GOAT T-Series lawnmower and the ULTRAMARINE L1 PRO pool-cleaning robot, signalling expansion beyond home floor care.

IFA visitors can experience innovations live September 4-8 in Hall 9, Booth 113.

For more information on all new ECOVACS products, please visit ecovacs.com. You can find individual press releases and product cards for each new launch here, or a selection of images for each product here.

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