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ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 Spotlight Game-Based Learning and AI in Education

From Minecraft classrooms to AI-driven training, the ETIH Awards reveal how edtech is reshaping learning. Meet the Finnish pioneers blending play with education.

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The image shows a group of children playing a game of pegs in a room with a wall, pillars, trees,...
The image shows a group of children playing a game of pegs in a room with a wall, pillars, trees, and a sky with clouds in the background. At the bottom of the image, there is text that reads "Boys Playing at Peg Top".

Finnish impact enterprise School of Gaming has announced on*LinkedInthat its staff has tripled this year as it continues to delivergame-based learningto children.*

ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 Spotlight Game-Based Learning and AI in Education

School of Gaming (SOG), a Finland-based impact enterprise, has expanded from three to nine staff members in 2025, according to a LinkedIn post from Principal Mikko Perälä.

The company delivers online after-school activities, clubs, and camps for children aged 7-18, using Minecraft and other games as tools for learning.

The company is a Microsoft-certified Minecraft Education Edition partner and emphasizes game-based learning as a way to enhance children's personal and social skills while promoting positive gaming culture.

As part of the update, Perälä introduced the company's newest team member, Liisa Hyvönen. "Liisa is in charge of our customer success and customer communication. Not only she will be serving our public sector clients, but also every new family and gamer who walks through the gates of the coolest school on the planet," Perälä writes.

Hyvönen, a graduate of Aalto University with a Master's degree in Engineering, will also play a role in the company's free demo events. "If you join our FREE Minecraft Demo Sessions on Wednesdays, you will see Captain Liisa steering our inter-dimensional vessel called Nautilus," Perälä adds.

Perälä notes that School of Gaming now supports "the well-being and future of hundreds of young #Minecraft loving gamers around the world." He says the company will continue to introduce new hires in the coming weeks, reflecting its commitment to growth in game-based learning.

"I will introduce our new people one by one over the course of next weeks," Perälä writes.

The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026

The our website Awards celebrate excellence in global education technology, with a particular focus on workforce development, AI integration, and innovative learning solutions across all stages of education.

Now open for entries, the ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 recognize the companies, platforms, and individuals driving transformation in the sector, from AI-driven assessment tools and personalized learning systems, to upskilling solutions and digital platforms that connect learners with real-world outcomes.

Submissions are open to organizations across the UK, the Americas, and internationally. Entries should highlight measurable impact, whether in K-12 classrooms, higher education institutions, or lifelong learning settings.

Winners will be announced on 14 January 2026 as part of an online showcase featuring expert commentary on emerging trends and standout innovation. All winners and finalists will also be featured in our first print magazine, to be distributed at BETT 2026.

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