Last week I had the opportunity to speak at LEARNTEC in Karlsruhe on the topic of digital sovereignty in education. While the importance of digital sovereignty is widely discussed in terms of control, privacy, and independence, I highlighted an additional dimension that is particularly relevant in education: empowerment.
In many cases, we have become accustomed to viewing software as something developed remotely and consumed passively. However, if the next generation is to regain meaningful control over their digital lives, it is essential to foster a different mindset. Software should be understood as something that can be explored, modified, and adapted. Enabling learners to engage with technology in this way is a critical step toward achieving true digital sovereignty.
This is where Nextcloud provides a compelling platform for educational institutions. Students can explore the codebase, learn from real-world examples, and actively participate in large, distributed, and diverse Open Source communities. They can also tailor their learning environment to their needs, by modifying existing Nextcloud apps or even developing new ones, turning software from a static tool into a dynamic learning experience.
#Learntec #Education #OpenSource #FreeSoftware #Nextcloud #DigitalSovereignty









