As we gear up for the EdTechX Summit 2026 and the EdTechX Awards, find out how one of last year’s EdTechX Award winners is reshaping higher education at scale.
Higher education is being rewritten by technology, learner expectations, and the reality that education has to fit around work and life. In this EdTechX Hall of Fame feature, we catch up with Dr Marian Bodenstedt of IU Group (last year’s EdTechX Leviathan Award winner) about what it takes to widen access to higher education at scale. IU is now home to 150,000+ learners (a tenfold increase since 2017) with 400+ accredited bachelor’s and master’s courses. IU is reshaping higher education for working professionals, parents and career-changers, with institutions in Germany, the UK and Canada, and learners globally.
Dr Bodenstedt also shares how winning an EdTechX Award helped “open doors” and accelerate new conversations — and why more innovators deserve a bigger spotlight.
Dive into our exclusive interview below, and don’t forget — applicants to this year’s awards receive a 50% discount to the EdTechX Summit on 16 June at County Hall, London where our 2026 winners will be announced!
In a few sentences, what does IU Group do and what problem does it solve? What’s one example that shows real impact?
IU Group is a leading provider of higher education, with universities in Germany, the UK, and Canada. We focus on widening access to education, especially for working professionals, parents, and career changers who need maximum flexibility.
In Germany alone, we offer over 200 degree programmes and, with approximately 70 per cent of our students coming from non-academic households — the highest proportion among German universities — we are making education more accessible across social backgrounds.
One tangible example of our impact is our 24/7 online examination model, which allows students to take exams flexibly in their own environment, dramatically improving accessibility and student satisfaction. IU was also one of the first educational providers to offer online exams.
In the past year, what has been the biggest win and the biggest challenge?
Our biggest win was launching a completely new online examination experience with 24/7 German-language support and no pre-registration required. Student satisfaction improved dramatically compared to our previous setup as students were then able to take exams at times that suited them.
Our biggest challenge has been rethinking assessment models in the age of AI: particularly how written examinations need to evolve to remain meaningful, fair, and future-proof.
Over the next 12 months, what excites you most and what keeps you up at night?
What excites me most is that we are moving to an AI-first mindset: embedding AI into our principles, processes, and ways of working across the organisation. But we are equally committed to maintaining high academic quality standards — AI should enhance, not replace, rigorous academic work. What keeps me up at night is the same thing: the speed of change, the regulatory and ethical implications, and the sheer dynamism AI is introducing into higher education.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities in higher education right now? What 1–2 trends will define 2026?
I see major opportunities in stackable education, modular learning, and smaller credentials beyond traditional degrees. At the same time, formal education is being questioned in some markets, which puts pressure on institutions to clearly demonstrate relevance and outcomes and at the same time uphold academic quality standards. The two defining trends for 2026 will be the continued unbundling of degrees and the deep integration of AI into how we teach, assess, learn, and prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow — paired with a strong focus on quality assurance to match academic higher education standards.
Looking back on the EdTechX Summit and winning the Award, what impact did it have?
The EdTechX Summit was a great reminder of how broad and diverse the education ecosystem is: from early education to higher education, from tools to full institutions. Winning the Award clearly helped open doors and made conversations easier, leading to several valuable connections. I’m looking forward to continuing those discussions in future summits.
Apart from IU Group, who would you nominate for an EdTechX Award?
Instead of a concrete player, I would propose a new category: introducing a non-for-profit award that helps institutions without any commercial orientation to get into the spotlight and make
more connections for their growth. Last year, I spoke to several non-for-profit organizations and initiatives and many of those deserve more attention.
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Want to be showcased as a leader in your sector? Apply for the EdTechX Awards here. All completed applications receive 50% off tickets to the EdTechX Summit on 16 June at County Hall, London — where our 2026 winners will be announced.
