What's in Store for the eLearning Industry?

Despite having more than half the population under 25 years of age, India is expected to face a shortage of 250 million skilled workers by 2022. Additionally, traditional education has failed to metamorphose in order to be relevant for today’s rapidly changing requirements. The rate of advancement of technologies and resulting opportunities is much too rapid for traditional programs and curriculum to keep up. Besides, there is a whole world of skills that are not even in the purview of the traditional education system eLearning will play a big role in helping bringing a step change to our education problem.

Ms. Monica Malhotra Kandhari, MD, MBD Group spoke about the ongoing developments that are making a mark in the eLearning space. “The E-learning industry in India is a prolific one, witnessing a steady growth rate of 25% year-on-year and is projected to be a $1.96 billion industry by 2021. Till last decade, the education system in India was working on the traditional classroom based learning, where the students didn’t get the opportunity to participate in the interactive sessions. To face these challenges of the changing time, it became necessary to make students’ concepts more clear and competent enough to cope up globally.”

Hence, the concept on Digital Learning was evolved in 2002 - 2003. With the technology spreading its wing to education sector, the typical classroom which was once characterized by boring  hour-long sessions now converted into very interesting, fun-filled environment. Digital education made life easier for both, students and educators.

“This integrated learning solution includes various apps, assessment portals, interactive e-Book portals, ICT Classroom solutions, etc. which help in increasing the student’s attentiveness and participation. The practical hands-on learning approach delivered by e-learning is also effective in vocational and skill education. The capacity to embed demo videos and explanatory videos into e-learning modules engages both the visual and auditory senses making it an effective medium to deliver new skills to the learners. The government realising the possible gains of adopting e-learning have introduces several initiatives such as “Skill India”, “Digital India,” and “Startup India” that relies heavily on the deployment of e-learning modules for mass consumption”, added the Managing Director, MBD Group.

Ms. Kandhari further gave insights about the advancements in the eLearning space. "Another development in the e-learning space is ‘Virtual Reality’, which now stimulates a seemingly realistic environment where learners can engage in a truly immersive learning process. Learners can gain the experience of visiting a construction site or observe and even try their hand at a complicated medical procedure without any of the associated risks. With access to smartphones and the internet in the country growing by the day, the scope for the growth and development of the e-learning industry is immense.

In a conversation with Hardik Shah, Director of E-Class Education System Ltd, talks about his numerous ideas and innovations in the areas of content, and E Learning Solutions. He said,” Online Education is expected to grow 8 times say, almost 1.96 billion by 2021. Primary and Secondary Education has the largest addressable audience. The reach is huge. We aim to achieve digital educational course for all the education segments."