Demand for education is growing faster than traditional infrastructure can keep pace on the second biggest continent, Africa. Population growth, urbanisation, and an increasingly digital economy are creating new expectations around access to learning, skills development, and lifelong education. At the same time, many regions continue to face challenges such as limited physical campuses, uneven connectivity, and constrained resources. 

A new partnership between Digital Samba and VarsityScape has been formed to address these challenges by enabling secure, scalable, and accessible digital education across the African continent.

This collaboration brings together European privacy-first video technology and an Africa-focused education platform, with a shared ambition: to make high-quality, interactive learning available wherever learners are.

The changing landscape of education in Africa 

Education systems across Africa are evolving rapidly. Universities, training providers, and private education platforms are increasingly adopting digital tools to reach learners beyond major cities and campus environments. Online and blended learning models are no longer just an option, they are becoming an essential driver in meeting demand. 

However, many global video and collaboration tools are not designed with these realities in mind. High bandwidth requirements, limited customisation, data sovereignty concerns, and reliance on external platforms can create friction for both learners and educators. 

This is where purpose-built education technology plays a critical role. Rather than forcing institutions to adapt to generic tools, platforms must be flexible, resilient, and capable of integrating seamlessly into existing education ecosystems.

VarsityScape: a platform built for African learners 

VarsityScape is developing a pan-African education platform that connects students, educators, and institutions through digital-first learning experiences tailored to local needs. Recognised as a Web Summit 2025 finalist, VarsityScape focuses on expanding access to education while supporting real outcomes such as employability, skills development, and academic progression. 

“At VarsityScape, our mission is to remove barriers to education and create opportunities for learners wherever they are,” said Daniel Idiare, CEO of VarsityScape. “By partnering with Digital Samba, we’re able to deliver live, interactive learning experiences that work in real-world conditions and give our learners a sense of presence, connection, and possibility — not just content.” 

The platform is designed to support diverse use cases, including: 

● Live online classes and workshops 

● Mentorship and tutoring sessions 

● Collaborative group learning 

● Institutional partnerships and programmes 

To deliver these experiences effectively, VarsityScape required a video infrastructure that could adapt to varying network conditions, scale with growth, and integrate directly into its platform without compromising user experience or trust. 

Why Digital Samba was selected as a technology partner 

Digital Samba provides a virtual classroom and real-time video platform built in Europe, with a strong emphasis on privacy, flexibility, and embeddability. Rather than offering a closed, one-size-fits-all product, Digital Samba enables education platforms to integrate live video directly into their own applications. 

For VarsityScape, this approach delivers several critical advantages: 

Embedded learning experiences 

Classes and mentoring sessions take place directly within the VarsityScape platform. Learners are not redirected to third-party tools, helping maintain continuity, engagement, and brand trust.

Designed for real-world connectivity 

Digital Samba’s technology is optimised for variable network conditions, supporting adaptive video quality and stable connections even in low-bandwidth environments. 

Scalable by design 

From small group sessions to large online classes, the virtual classroom infrastructure can scale as VarsityScape expands across regions, institutions, and learner groups. 

Privacy and control 

Strong data-protection principles and platform-level control ensure that education providers retain ownership of the learning environment and user experience. 

The role of live interaction in effective digital education 

While on-demand content plays an important role in online learning, live interaction between teachers and students remains essential for engagement, motivation, and comprehension. Real-time video enables learners to ask questions, collaborate with peers, and build relationships with educators, which are all elements that are particularly important in mentoring and skills-based education. 

Through this partnership, VarsityScape can deliver: 

● Interactive live lectures 

● One-to-one or small group mentoring 

● Real-time discussions and feedback 

● Collaborative learning sessions 

These capabilities help replicate the human connection of physical classrooms while extending reach far beyond traditional boundaries. 

Announced ahead of BETT London

The partnership is being announced ahead of the BETT Show in London, where Digital Samba will be present with a stand as part of the ICEX delegation, because this event provides a strong

international backdrop to highlight initiatives that advance inclusive, technology-enabled education. BETT brings together educators, institutions, policymakers, and technology providers from around the world, making it a natural moment to share partnerships focused on global educational impact. 

Building sustainable, long-term education infrastructure 

Both Digital Samba and VarsityScape view this partnership as a long-term investment rather than a short-term deployment. The goal is not simply to enable video calls, but to build resilient education infrastructure that can support future growth, innovation, and changing learner needs. 

As demand increases for remote and blended learning models, cross-border education programmes, skills-focused training, and lifelong learning opportunities, the underlying technology must be able to evolve without creating lock-in or dependency on inflexible platforms. 

Looking ahead: education without borders 

The Digital Samba & VarsityScape partnership reflects a broader shift in education technology – one that prioritises accessibility, trust, and adaptability. By combining an Africa-focused education platform with European-built, privacy-first virtual classroom technology, the collaboration supports meaningful learning experiences at scale. 

“Education should never be limited by geography or infrastructure,” said Robert Strobl, CEO of Digital Samba. “When technology is designed around real needs and local contexts, it becomes a powerful enabler of opportunity.” 

As VarsityScape continues to expand its reach across Africa, Digital Samba will provide the live communication foundation that supports connection, collaboration, and knowledge sharing — helping ensure that education can travel wherever it is needed most.

More information about Digital Samba you can find here: https://www.digitalsamba.com/