Mapping the digital education landscape: Stakeholders and networks of governance in Brazil

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the digitalization of education, integrating digital tools such as platforms, apps, games, and virtual learning environments into schools worldwide. This expansion of educational technology is intertwined with complex governance networks, where new private actors play an increasingly prominent role in managing public education. Alongside traditional stakeholders, EdTech startups, new philanthropists, venture capitalists, and intermediaries have emerged as influential participants in shaping the educational landscape. This paper maps the stakeholder groups and their interconnections within Brazil’s digital education governance networks, identifying the most influential and well-connected organizations. It explores their interactions, highlighting collaborative efforts to drive education reform through technology. Employing network ethnography and a policy-following approach, this paper analyses the digital education landscape in Brazil, with critical insights into the governance dynamics shaping education.