Key Trends And Dynamics Shaping Online Higher Education Sector

The Indian online higher education and upskilling market is one of the fastest growing sectors, with market for online skilling and certification market size in India growing at a CAGR of 23.1% from FY 2023 to FY 2028, according to a report by Technopak Advisors titled ‘Online Higher Education, Certification & Upskilling market in India.’

The report pointed out that the Indian education system is experiencing a transformative wave driven by several factors, including increasing internet penetration, rising demand for online education, and the need for upskilling and reskilling in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The education system has undergone a transformation with the advent of online higher education and upskilling, altering how individuals’ access and participate in learning. Presently, education is more within reach, flexible, and customized, allowing people from diverse backgrounds to acquire fresh skills and knowledge conveniently, regardless of their location.

With a focus on technology and innovation, the adoption of online learning is on the rise, accompanied by the increasing use of adaptive learning technologies within online higher education and upskilling platforms. These platforms are integrating cutting-edge technologies and leveraging data and analytics to personalize learning experiences, tailoring content to individual needs and learning styles.

Online higher education and upskilling companies are increasingly collaborating with industry partners to design courses that are more aligned with the current and upcoming industry needs.

The report pointed out the growing emphasis on skill-based learning and upskilling. Online higher education and upskilling platforms offer courses and certifications in specific skills demanded by industries, such as data science, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and fields like management and language courses.

The report also placed a significant emphasis on providing cost-effective learning solutions to cater to a diverse range of learners. With the goal of democratizing education, many platforms offer courses at affordable prices, making quality education accessible to a broader demographic. This trend is particularly crucial in a country like India, where economic diversity is significant, and affordability plays a key role in enabling widespread access to education.

The Indian government has been taking initiatives to promote online education and upskilling.The implementation of initiatives like digital public libraries, centers of excellence for AI and IoT, is viewed as an imminent digital revolution in the education sector. Recent initiative of Government of India under NEP, which puts online education at par with regular degrees and other courses.

The report also emphasised on the fact that the online higher education and upskilling companies such as Jaro Education, UpGrad, Great Learning, Talent Edge, Simplilearn and Coursera exhibit a wide range of durations, accommodating the needs of students with short-term certificate courses to long-term doctoral programs. This diversity caters to individuals with different time commitments and preferences, allowing for flexibility in choosing the duration of their educational journey. These online higher education and upskilling offers a diverse set of courses, including degrees (MBA), diploma programs, and various certificates in fields like Data Science, AI & ML and Marketing etc. While the majority of these companies concentrate on certification courses, entities such as Jaro Education, UpGrad, and Great Learning also emphasize on both degree and certification domains.

With the advent of digital technology, education has become more accessible and inclusive, reaching even the farthest corners of the country. Additionally, the government's initiatives to promote online education and the growing demand for upskilling and reskilling in the job market have further fueled the growth of the Indian online higher education and upskilling sector. As a result, the sector continues to expand, offering learners diverse and accessible educational opportunities.

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