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AI, Enrollment Declines, and IT Leadership Define Education Sector’s 2025 Priorities: New Info-Tech Research Report

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Info-Tech Research Group, a global IT research and advisory firm, has released a new report that highlights six key research blueprints designed to help educational institution CIOs and IT teams respond to AI disruption, declining enrollment, governance challenges, and the evolving role of IT leadership.

TORONTO, May 9, 2025 /CNW/ – As educational institutions navigate shifting demographics, emerging technologies, and increasing demands for accountability, global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group says that the role of IT leaders in the sector is growing more strategic and institution-wide. To support this evolution, Info-Tech Research Group has published its Best Research for the Education Sector 2025, a collection of industry-focused blueprints that address the sector’s most urgent technology challenges, including generative AI, enrollment, and data governance.

The firm explains that educational institutions at all levels are being challenged to rethink how technology supports learning, administration, and long-term viability. From increasing pressure to modernize ERP systems to navigating the ethical use of generative AI in classrooms, IT departments must now lead not only on infrastructure but also on innovation, risk management, and student outcomes.

“The next few years will test the adaptability of education systems around the world,” says Info-Tech Research Group’s Chief Research Officer, Gord Harrison. “From managing the impact of generative AI to tackling enrollment uncertainty, IT leaders in education must play a pivotal role in guiding their institutions through transition while ensuring responsible innovation and long-term value.”

Info-Tech’s 2025 Research Priorities for IT Leaders in Education

The following blueprints from Info-Tech address the unique challenges educational institutions are facing in 2025. The list of some of the top research that is supporting IT in the sector offers practical guidance to help IT leaders respond with strategy, speed, and long-term vision:

Understand the Implications of Generative AI in Education – The guidance in this blueprint helps education leaders take a structured, institution-wide approach to AI adoption, moving beyond reactive bans to promote responsible, ethical, and effective integration in teaching, learning, and administration.Unify IT in the Education Sector – The insights in this blueprint will help institutions align decentralized IT teams and services, creating a unified technology environment that supports scalability, operational efficiency, and improved service delivery across campuses or districts.Understand the IT Implications for the Enrollment Cliff – This research helps IT leaders assess how declining enrollment impacts institutional strategy and operations. It offers tools like PESTLE analysis to align technology initiatives with efforts to enhance competitiveness, reduce costs, and support long-term sustainability.Elevate the Role of the CIO in Higher Education – This blueprint provides a roadmap for CIOs to transition from service providers to strategic institutional leaders. It offers tools to build transformational capabilities, foster cross-campus partnerships, and position IT as a catalyst for lasting change and improved student outcomes.Establish Data Governance – The framework outlined in this blueprint assists educational institutions in aligning data governance initiatives with organizational value streams and business capabilities. It provides guidance on defining leadership, accountability, and responsibilities related to data use and handling, supported by an operating model that effectively manages change and communication.Identify a Resilient Approach to the Future of Your Higher Education ERP – This research helps institutions evaluate ERP renewal options – such as single vendor, best-of-breed, or shared data platforms – based on IT capability and institutional maturity. It guides CIOs in selecting a modernization path that balances risk, cost, and strategic alignment.

The research blueprints highlighted in Info-Tech’s Best Research for the Education Sector 2025 report provide IT leaders with practical frameworks, expert guidance, and actionable strategies for navigating digital transformation in education. As the sector faces increased pressure to adapt, the right technology leadership will be crucial to ensuring both institutional stability and student success.

To request exclusive and timely commentary from Info-Tech’s experts on these blueprints or to download Info-Tech’s Best Research for the Education Sector 2025 resource, please contact pr@infotech.com.

Media Passes for Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Las Vegas

Media professionals, including journalists, podcasters, and influencers, are invited to attend Info-Tech LIVE 2025 to gain exclusive access to research, content, and interviews with industry leaders. For those unable to attend in person, Info-Tech offers a digital pass option, providing access to live-streamed keynotes, select sessions, and exclusive virtual interviews with speakers and analysts.

Media professionals looking to apply for in-person or digital passes can contact pr@infotech.com to secure their spot and cover the latest advancements in IT directly from the event or remotely.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software-buying insights. 

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

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EcoFlow Reveals OCEAN 2 at Solar & Storage Live London 2026 as Demand Grows for Smarter, Scalable Home Energy

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Next-generation EcoFlow OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase system unveiled, designed for a new era of scalable, whole-home energy, supporting up to 12kw AC outputStorage capacity expandable up to 300 kWh, with 10,000 cell-cycle battery lifespanEngineered for faster installation and lower ongoing energy lossAdvanced solar optimisation with triple MPPT architecture for complex UK rooftopsExclusive preview of upcoming OCEAN 2 products and EcoFlow STREAM technology at the event

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EcoFlow is set to unveil OCEAN 2 Plus, its next-generation home battery system, at Solar & Storage Live London 2026, taking place at ExCeL London from 29–30 April.

Positioned at the intersection of performance, scalability and intelligent energy management, OCEAN 2 represents a significant step forward for residential energy systems in the UK – designed not just to meet today’s demand, but to evolve alongside it. As the market shifts towards more flexible, decentralised energy models, EcoFlow is delivering systems that scale from everyday households through to high-demand, fully electrified homes.

At the event, EcoFlow will also offer attendees an exclusive first look at upcoming additions to the OCEAN 2 series, alongside a showcase of its STREAM technology, reflecting growing momentum behind small-scale and emerging solar solutions in the UK.

EcoFlow OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase has been designed with long-term flexibility at its core. A single system can start small and expand over time, supporting up to 300 kWh of storage capacity when configured in parallel. This enables the system to move beyond traditional residential use cases, supporting larger homes with electric vehicles, heat pumps, and increasing electrification demands. With a 10,000-cycle battery lifespan, the system is built to deliver consistent performance and savings over many years of operation.

Performance has also been optimised for real-world UK conditions. With three independent MPPTs, OCEAN 2 is able to maximise solar generation across rooftops with multiple orientations or partial shading, ensuring more consistent energy capture throughout the day. Each string supports high input capacity, enabling installers to design more efficient, higher-yield systems without compromise.

Efficiency extends beyond generation. OCEAN 2 has been engineered to minimise its own energy consumption, operating at just 50W during light-load discharge. While often overlooked, this reduction in baseline energy use contributes to meaningful long-term savings, with estimated lifetime energy savings reaching up to 6,000 kWh over a 15-year period.

Installation has been streamlined throughout. With a compact form factor, integrated components and reduced on-site complexity, OCEAN 2 is designed to save time at every stage, from handling and positioning through to commissioning. At 46kg per battery pack, and with support for both indoor and outdoor installation, the system provides practical flexibility for installers working across a wide range of property types.

Whole-home backup functionality is built in as standard, with seamless switching designed to maintain power continuity across essential systems. This is complemented by a multi-layered safety architecture, combining both passive and active protection mechanisms across the battery system, alongside a 15-year warranty designed to support long-term peace of mind.

At the system level, OCEAN 2 integrates into EcoFlow’s wider Home Energy Ecosystem, connecting solar generation, storage, and smart home technologies into a single intelligent platform. Through its Home Energy Management System, the system can automatically optimise when to store and use energy based on demand and dynamic electricity tariffs, helping households reduce reliance on the grid while improving overall energy efficiency.

Craig Bilboe, Head of Residential UK&ANZ for EcoFlow said:

“UK homes are changing quickly. We’re seeing more electric vehicles, more heat pumps, and more people wanting to use their own solar more effectively. OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase has been built for that reality. It gives installers a system that’s quicker to work with, and gives households the ability to store more, use more, and expand over time without replacing what they already have. Alongside that, technologies like STREAM are opening the door for people who want to start smaller, making solar more accessible in a way we haven’t really seen in the UK before.”

Visitors to the EcoFlow stand will be able to experience live demonstrations of OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase, explore upcoming product developments, and speak directly with EcoFlow’s technical and commercial teams.

To register or learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/g6RxBPmB

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ecoflow-reveals-ocean-2-at-solar–storage-live-london-2026-as-demand-grows-for-smarter-scalable-home-energy-302754188.html

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XTM International Appoints New CMO and VP of Engineering to Accelerate AI-Driven Growth

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Niki Sotiropoulou joins as Chief Marketing Officer and Sean Mooney as Vice President of Engineering, reinforcing XTM’s commitment to AI-driven product innovation and global enterprise growth.

LONDON, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XTM International, a global leader in AI-driven localisation technology, today announced two strategic additions to its executive leadership team. Niki Sotiropoulou has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), and Sean Mooney joins as Vice President of Engineering, leading engineering execution across XTM’s expanded product portfolio.

“Adding leaders of Niki’s and Sean’s calibre is a clear signal of XTM’s ambitions for the next phase of growth,” said Lorcan Malone, Chief Executive Officer of XTM International. “Niki brings the strategic marketing leadership to amplify the value our platform delivers to enterprise customers, while Sean brings the engineering depth to accelerate how quickly we ship that innovation. Together, they will help us extend our lead in AI-driven localisation.”

Niki Sotiropoulou — Chief Marketing Officer

Niki Sotiropoulou is a marketing leader focused on the intersection of AI, data and enterprise growth. Across more than two decades in both B2B and B2C, including pivotal roles at market-leading companies such as viva.com and eSHARE, she has built a reputation for aligning marketing strategy with overarching business objectives, and for using data and modern marketing technology to deliver measurable commercial impact. Her contribution to the field has been recognised through her inclusion among the industry’s top marketing influencers.

As CMO, Niki will lead XTM’s global marketing organisation, embedding AI and data across brand strategy, demand generation and customer-facing communications as the company delivers on its composable, AI platform mission.

“Marketing is most effective when it is grounded in data and amplified by AI,” said Sotiropoulou. “XTM is doing genuinely category-defining work in AI-driven globalisation platform, and my focus is on bringing the same rigour to how we tell that story, by building a marketing organisation that is data-driven, AI-augmented, and clearly tied to the outcomes our customers care about.”

Sean Mooney — Vice President of Engineering

Sean Mooney is a highly experienced technology leader specialising in cloud, connected services, technical architecture, systems integration and product modernisation. He brings 25 years of industry experience and a proven track record of delivering complex, concurrent strategic programmes on time, on budget and to specification. Sean will lead engineering execution across XTM’s R&D function, including development, QA, support and architecture teams in Ireland and across XTM’s global hubs.

“Great products are built by great teams,” said Mooney. “XTM has a clear AI-driven product vision, an exceptional engineering culture, and a customer base that depends on us to deliver. My role is to make sure our R&D organisation operates at the standard our customers expect : combining engineering excellence, modern architecture and a culture of continuous improvement so we can ship innovation at the pace this market demands.”

About XTM International

XTM International is your AI globalisation platform that transforms language from a barrier into an opportunity. We bring translation management, business management, software localisation, and video creation together into a composable system, giving enterprises the flexibility to adopt the solutions they need, when they need them. Trusted by over 1,300 global companies, supporting more than 880 languages and over 80 ready-to-go integrations, XTM enables teams to scale global content with accuracy, speed, and absolute trust.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/xtm-international-appoints-new-cmo-and-vp-of-engineering-to-accelerate-ai-driven-growth-302754951.html

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Loftie Launches Loftie+ Habit System to Help People Put Their Phones Down

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LONDON, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Loftie, maker of the award-winning alarm clock that replaces the smartphone on the nightstand, today launches Loftie+ — a behaviour-change system built to change habits, not track data.

Over half of UK and Irish adults stay up later than planned because of their phones — rising to 73% of 18- to 24-year-olds in the UK (Deloitte, 2024). The sleep industry’s answer: sell people a tracker and a score.

“The sleep industry is obsessed with measurement,” said Matt Hassett, founder and CEO of Loftie. “People are staring at a dozen numbers every morning trying to figure out why they feel terrible — while the phone that’s wrecking their sleep is the same device giving them the score. We’re not interested in adding more data. We’re interested in helping you put the phone down.”

Loftie+ is a mobile app (£9.99/€9.99 monthly or £59.99/€59.99 yearly) that works on its own — no Loftie hardware required. It combines nightly app blocking, daytime focus tools, and screen-time challenges, plus a credit card-sized Loftie Card for your wallet and a free browser extension.

At night: the app schedules blocking around sleep in three phases — Relax, Sleep, and Rise — guiding users from wind-down to wake-up with minimal phone interference.

During the day: the Loftie Card triggers Focus mode with a single tap — at your desk, before a meeting, when the kids get home. Unlike screen-time apps that stay on a shelf at home, the Card lives in your wallet, with you wherever you need to focus.

A free home screen widget, Flip, replaces your phone’s app grid with just the apps you choose — no icons, no distractions.

Loftie+ builds on a platform serving over 15,000 members across curated audio, personalised bedtime stories, and wind-down routines. For Loftie hardware owners, an optional feature called Loftie Drift blocks selected apps automatically when you enter the bedroom, using Bluetooth from your Clock or Lamp.

Loftie+ is available now on iOS and Android across the UK and EU. The browser extension and Flip are free.

About Loftie

Loftie is a sleep wellness brand designing products that help people put their phones down — for deeper sleep at night and better focus by day. The line includes the Loftie Clock, Loftie Lamp, and Loftie+. The Loftie Clock has been named a TIME Best Invention, recommended by Wirecutter five years running, and is carried at MoMA Design Store, Goop, and URBN.

Website: loftie.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/loftie-launches-loftie-habit-system-to-help-people-put-their-phones-down-302753395.html

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