EFF Announces Status as Not-for-Profit Organisation

Atlanta, Georgia, June 30, 2014 Education Fast Forward (EFF), the unique, global education movement created by Promethean and Cisco which brings together world leading education thinkers and organisations to debate and raise critical education issues of today, is moving to not-for-profit status as a fully independent organization. Formally announced at the World EdTech Development Congress during ISTE 2014, this exciting change that will enable the Education Fast Forward body to better realize its full potential and make an even greater impact on education worldwide.

As a fully independent organization with not-for-profit, EFF will have the opportunity to engage with a wider audience and expand its funding sources. In doing so, EFF will now have the capacity to not only increase the frequency of global debates (currently three per year), but will also be equipped to translate global education issues into fully actionable plans.

As a global education company committed to motivating learning and raising education standards worldwide, Promethean has worked hard to establish EFF as a forum which can simultaneously nurture future leaders while learning from the wisdom of the establishment. Recognizing that EFF can only facilitate meaningful change in education if given true independence, Promethean is actively supporting EFF in the next stage of its journey.

Jim Marshall, Promethean CEO, explains: “Promethean is extremely proud to have helped make EFF what it is today, but we also appreciate that its potential to deliver greater value lies in it moving forward as a fully independent organisation. We are excited about what this will mean for education worldwide and remain fully committed as a supporter moving forward.”

Born out of Promethean’s own Education Strategy team, EFF will be taken forward by its founder, Jim Wynn, who has been named CEO of the newly independent Education Fast Forward organization. According to Wynn, “With the finite resources we have had available to date, EFF has already reached and engaged significant global audiences and included some of the world’s most influential people in its debates. Moving forward as an independent organization, we will be able to draw from a much wider pool of support that will ultimately help us achieve much more. Put simply, EFF wants teachers to think about policy and policy makers to think about the classroom. EFF also wants the youth voice heard, challenging the establishment while also learning from the successes and failures of the past.”

In addition to his new position as EFF CEO, Jim Wynn will remain as Promethean’s trusted education advisor, providing guidance on the themes that matter most in education. Fully committed to EFF, Promethean will continue to provide financial and resource support, which includes Jim Marshall, CEO, continuing as a member of the EFF board of trustees.

In addition to the backing pledged by Promethean, EFF is seeking additional support in the form of time and wisdom from influential organizations and individuals in education, as well as funding streams for two years or more. Since becoming a not-for-profit organization, EFF has already secured support from organisations such as The British Council and is currently in conversations for a partnership with UNESCO”.

For further information on Education Fast Forward, organizational objectives or details on how to pledge support, please visit the Promethean website at www.prometheanworld.com.