New learning centres for refugees as well as an analysis tool that aims to drive investment in the education sector are two of the latest initiatives announced recently by HP in London.

Announced at the Education World Forum and BETT education shows in London, HP’s new education initiatives include an expansion of learning centres in the Middle East designed to help refugees and families displaced within their own borders, and a new tool that analyses regional data to determine how investments in education will translate into economic growth for a particular region.

HP’s Learning Studios

HP had committed to working with Digital Promise Global, the Global Business Coalition for Education, Microsoft and Intel during President Barack Obama’s Leaders’ Summit on Refugees, to give refugee students access to modern technology as well as the opportunity to learn essential business and IT skills.

Having already deployed 60 Learning Studios in 15 countries, HP made a further commitment during the BETT Show in London to open three Learning Studios each in Jordan and Lebanon, specifically to help refugees acquire more knowledge and skills.

Each HP Learning Studio will come fully equipped with a suite of  technologies, including Sprout Pro, an all-in-one, touch-driven 3D computing, scanning and project platform; ProBook x360 Education Edition convertible computers powered by Windows 10; and a Dremel 3D printer. The core curriculum will be built around HP LIFE e-Learning courses, which include 25 online modules on essential business and IT skills in seven languages.

HP Education Data Command Centre

The HP Education Data Command Centre is a new software tool that can process massive amounts of socioeconomic data and apply predictive analysis algorithms to determine how education spending can have a direct impact on a nation’s GDP.

The tool applies a scientific forecast to provide region-specific analysis of data from a variety of sources, such as the World Bank and United Nations. It takes into consideration a wide range of variables about students, such as their age, gender, location, income level and family status to further refine the results.

HP has also released its Global Learning Economic and Social Index 2016 report, with support from Microsoft and Intel. The extensive study ranks every UN member state against various learning, economic and social criteria.