World first for Scotland as digital resource on climate change delivered to every Scottish school – Scottish Business News

IN WHAT will represent a world first for Scotland, E-learning specialist ITZA is set to launch its One Planet digital resource on climate change and how to protect the planet, an interdisciplinary online programme that helps teachers facilitate independent learning on building a sustainable economy to be delivered into every Scottish school.  

Based on David Attenborough’s four actions to change the way we live to reduce global warming and preserve the natural world – Eliminate Waste, Go Net Zero, Revive the Oceans, and Rewild the World – One Planet will be delivered by ITZA with content partners including the BBC, GettyImages , HarperCollins, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and NatureScot. 

ITZA is also announcing that Scottish Building Society is its first commercial partner for the One Planet learning programme, supporting the production of key digital learning modules on purposeful investment and financial literacy to help teenagers learn about opportunities in a sustainable economy.  

One Planet will be delivered into every Scottish state school on GLOW – the national intranet of Education Scotland – before a global roll-out commencing in 2025 when One Planet will be integrated with Microsoft and Google’s education platforms which are collectively used by over 300 million young people worldwide. 

ITZA CEO and founder Anthony Bouchier said: “As we grow our base in Scotland, we’re proud to be launching One Planet in Scottish schools across the country.  We have already tested elements of the resources in around one hundred different countries, and next year will see us scale One Planet to English-speaking schools around the world.  We are thankful for the incredible support from the Scottish Building Society, and in the Villars Institute we have an International partner who is at the cutting edge of young people driving debate and systematic change.” 

Paul Denton, chief executive of Scottish Building Society, said: “Scottish Building Society is passionate about teaching children the important role financial understanding and financial planning will have throughout their lives.  More than 70 per cent of teenagers see the move to net zero as the defining issue of the time.  We want to help give a clear view on the challenges we face and build the skills our young people need to thrive in a net zero economy.” 

As part of the One Planet programme, two young Scots will be selected to attend the Villars Institute’s annual Villars Symposium in Switzerland in June, where young leaders and ecopreneurs from across the world will address how to accelerate the transition to net zero and a nature-positive economy.   School children aged 10 and above can now apply for one of the Fellowships with the Villars Institute, where two young people will attend the Villars Symposium in Villars, Switzerland between 25th-28th June. 

Lee Howell, Executive Director of the Villars Institute, highlighted that: “The challenges facing our planet clearly require intergenerational solutions and we have selected Scotland to pioneer our move to help teens see the great opportunities ahead as the world moves towards a net zero and nature positive economy.”

In February, ITZA secured £2 million of R&D grant and equity funding from Scottish Enterprise, Alba Equity, and private investors to grow a digital learning, production, and AI analytics hub in Scotland to accelerate independent learning for young people in the 10-16 age range. 

ITZA’s web platform empowers young people to learn independently using curated content and personalised analytics. The company’s team of filmmakers, cognitive scientists, educators, and game designers collaborate with global brands and organisations to produce engaging film, games, and other interactive content to complement and extend the school curricula.