The biggest questions shaping learning spaces in 2026
Schools aren't asking for more technology; they're asking for better outcomes.
Walk into almost any conversation with a school, college or university today, and you'll notice something has changed.
Five years ago, the discussion often centred on products.
Which display should we choose? Which camera for hybrid classes? Which microphone for lecturers?
Today, those conversations look very different.
Education customers are asking bigger questions about engagement, consistency, value, sustainability and AI. They're looking beyond individual devices and instead asking how technology can shape entire learning environments that genuinely improve teaching and learning.
For AV resellers and integrators, that changes the role you play.
Success is no longer measured by recommending the right product. It's about understanding the wider challenge, asking better questions and bringing together the right technologies, expertise and people to deliver the right outcome.
“Our customers within the education sector are increasingly looking beyond individual products and focusing on outcomes. Whether that's consistency across a MAT, improving accessibility or creating AI-ready learning spaces, the most successful projects bring together the right technology, expertise and partners to deliver lasting value." – Bradley Bennett, Head of Channel Sales – Education at Midwich.
These are exactly the conversations we'll be exploring at Tech Xpo 2026.
Here are three of the biggest challenges shaping education projects right now.
1. How do we deliver better learning experiences with tighter budgets?
Every education institution is under pressure to do more with less.
Whether it's a primary school investing in new classrooms, a multi-academy trust standardising technology across dozens of sites or a university upgrading teaching spaces, budgets remain under close scrutiny.
That means technology decisions are increasingly judged on long-term value rather than upfront cost.
Education customers are asking questions like:
- How long will this technology last?
- Can we reduce ongoing support costs?
- Will it integrate with our existing infrastructure?
- Can we standardise technology across multiple classrooms?
- How easy is it for teachers to use every day?
They're not looking for the cheapest solution; they're looking for the smartest investment.
For resellers, this creates an opportunity to move beyond product specifications and become trusted advisors. By focusing on lifecycle value, support, interoperability and user experience, conversations become far more strategic.
At Tech Xpo, you'll be able to compare different approaches, speak with specialists and explore how complete learning environments can be designed to maximise both educational outcomes and long-term value.
2. How do we create connected learning environments rather than isolated classrooms?
Technology within education has become increasingly connected.
Students move between teaching spaces, lecture theatres, collaboration areas, libraries, meeting rooms and communal environments. Teachers expect technology to work consistently wherever they teach, while IT teams need systems that are easier to deploy, manage and support across entire campuses.
This has changed how projects are planned.
Instead of asking how to equip one classroom, institutions are asking how to create connected learning ecosystems.
That means considering:
- Consistent user experiences across every room
- Centralised device management
- Seamless collaboration between teaching spaces
- Better integration with existing platforms
- Simpler deployment and maintenance
For resellers, these conversations often extend well beyond traditional education technology.
Collaboration, networking, digital signage, audio, security and campus-wide communications are increasingly becoming part of the same project.
It's a reminder that customers rarely buy technologies in isolation – they buy complete solutions.
With more than 70 exhibitors and specialist businesses spanning workplace, security, AV, audio, LED, live production and collaboration, Tech Xpo provides the opportunity to see how these technologies work together to solve real education challenges.
3. What role should AI play in education?
Perhaps no topic is generating more discussion than AI. The conversation centres on how AI can be used responsibly to improve outcomes for both educators and students.
Schools and universities are exploring questions such as:
- How can AI reduce teacher workload?
- Can it support lesson planning?
- How should AI be introduced into teaching safely?
- How can it improve accessibility?
- Can it help measure participation and student engagement?
- What infrastructure is needed to support AI-ready learning spaces?
There are no universal answers.
Every institution approach AI differently, depending on its priorities, governance and existing technology estate.
For resellers, this creates an important opportunity.
Rather than positioning AI as another product category, conversations should focus on practical applications and genuine educational value.
Helping customers understand where AI can improve collaboration, automate repetitive tasks, support content creation or create more inclusive learning experiences is often far more valuable than discussing features alone.
These are exactly the kinds of conversations visitors can have at Tech Xpo with Midwich specialists and technology partners who are already supporting education projects across the UK and Ireland.
The opportunity for the channel
Education technology has become too broad for any one organisation to specialise in every area.
Today's projects often combine collaboration, displays, audio, networking, security, digital signage, content management, AI and support services into a single deployment.
That's why partnerships matter more than ever. The most successful resellers know which questions to ask and who to bring into the conversation.
By understanding the challenges schools, colleges and universities are trying to solve, AV partners can position themselves as trusted advisors rather than technology suppliers.
Continue the conversation at Tech Xpo 2026
In ten years of Tech Xpo, the event has always brought together leading technology brands.
This year, we're placing even greater emphasis on the conversations behind today's projects.
Rather than exploring products in isolation, you'll have the opportunity to discover how different technologies combine to solve real-world challenges across education and beyond.
Meet Midwich specialists, compare solutions from more than 70 exhibitors and discuss the issues your education customers are bringing to you today.
Even better, bring your education customers with you.
Seeing technologies in action, meeting the people behind them and discussing projects face-to-face often makes conversations easier than over email or video calls.
Whether you're supporting a single classroom refresh or a campus-wide transformation, Tech Xpo is designed to help you explore complete solutions, build valuable connections and return with ideas you can put into practice.
Join us at Tech Xpo 2026 on 21-22 October at Ascot Racecourse and bring your next education project with you. Together, we'll explore the technologies, expertise and conversations shaping the future of learning spaces.
