Kiwi company leaps into education market with digital literacy tool

Kiwi company Bud-e Digital has launched Bud-e Reading, the literacy product targeted at New Zealand students and designed to be exportable to other markets.

The digital and print based literacy solution features an interactive app and a suite of books to support beginner readers, grow their confidence and develop positive attitudes to reading.

"Research over many years demonstrates that if children are to become lifelong learners, they must develop core skills and knowledge in the early years of schooling.

"For children in the twenty-first century, literacy learning activities with a digital platform are pivotal to their engagement," the company says.

Bud-e was developed in New Zealand and is backed by significant funding from Callaghan Innovation and Education New Zealand (ENZ).

It was formally launched by Melissa Lee, National Party List MP, at an event in Kingsland, Auckland.

At the conclusion of the launch, contracts were signed by representatives from two major Asian distributors: Danalis Distributor, Malaysia; and Book H, Korea.

From here, Bud-e Reading will be rolled out to other key global markets, including Australia, South Africa and North America.

Bud-E Digital was founded in 2014 by directors Chris Bulman, Jill Eggleton and Tracy Strudley.

Between them, they have many years of experience in the fields of education, publishing and technology.

Jill Eggleton is an author of more than 800 children's books and has spoken at many international reading conferences.

Libby Limbrick, University of Auckland Faculty of Education principal lecturer, has reviewed and endorsed Bud-e Reading.

"It is evident that the Bud-e Reading programme is informed by a robust theory of literacy development; the content and structure provide sound, research-based experiences to support the development skills and knowledge which are validated by a wide body of research as essential for early literacy development; and is consistent with the Core Standards expected to be achieved by the end of the kindergarten year at school," Limbrick says.

International education is New Zealand's fifth largest export earner, generating $2.85 billion in the latest year.

More than $100m of that comes from the export of educational products and services.

Crown agency Education New Zealand (ENZ) has committed $50,000 to assist Bud-e's efforts to develop distribution networks in Asia.

ENZ helps fund projects that will develop new markets, products and services to grow New Zealand education industry exports.