For the first time in the history of education, during the Covid 19 times, so many students were out of the classroom. Now, even if the pandemic is behind us, it has changed us forever and so has it changed how we learn. As the world embraced online learning for all age groups, EdTech started picking pace and working towards enhancing the learning experiences. Ultimately the Universities at the epicenter of higher education embraced online learning. Fueled by technology, digital transformation in universities and online learning will continue to see progress for decades to come. Higher education remotely is taking shape majorly because of the transformation of digital technologies. Universities are carrying forward the legacy of learning with digital libraries.
While Indian Universities have taken time to adjust to the digital transformation of higher education, it has the potential to address the long-standing challenges of Indian higher education. In the farther future, better opportunities for higher education shall make graduates more employable. Thus, Universities in India can see opportunities to transform higher education by using digital technology. Cutting technology is meant to overcome most of the challenges of higher education and offer a robust learning medium that everyone can benefit from.
Universities in the US have been adopting Digital Learning:
Universities in the U.S. have rapidly embraced digital learning to meet the changing demands of students and technology. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, in the fall of 2020, 74% of undergraduate students in the U.S. were enrolled in at least one distance education course, a sharp rise from 34.5% in 2019. This shift was further propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced educational institutions to adopt online platforms for delivering instruction. The use of Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Digital Library software platforms surged, enabling instructors to deliver online lectures, assignments, and assessments. In 2021, the global e-learning market was valued at $315 billion, and it’s projected to reach $1 trillion by 2028, with U.S. universities playing a pivotal role in this growth by integrating digital tools into their curricula.
Additionally, many U.S. universities are leveraging AI and data analytics to improve student outcomes through personalized learning experiences. Platforms such as Coursera and edX have expanded partnerships with universities, offering over 9,000 online courses and degrees to students worldwide. For example, Arizona State University has been a leader in online education, serving more than 57,000 students through its digital platform, ASU Online. Similarly, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) enrolls over 135,000 online students annually, making it one of the largest online education providers in the U.S. This digital transformation has expanded access to education, making it possible for students from diverse backgrounds to enroll in programs and learn from anywhere in the world.
Universities in India Continue to Embrace Digital Education
Higher education in India will continue to disperse learning online. It has picked up momentum because of the pandemic but it will continue to gain pace even when the pandemic is gone. This is what the education facilitators also believe.
As per the website, The Print:
“One of the mandatory conditions is that the course has to be a mix of online and face-to-face lectures. The other players in open and distance learning are IGNOU, state-open universities, and the Ministry of Education. Engineering like medicine involves hands-on experience and therefore has been kept out of the purview of degree purposes, though add-on e-content like the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) created by the Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs) for engineering students is hugely popular.”
Thus, it can be reasonably inferred that online higher education will continue to witness success. This does not infer that the only mode of higher education will be online but a part of it will surely be. Most of the courses that involve training on competency-based skills will have a blend of online and offline learning. Traditional Universities like Mumbai and Pune now have a good number of ODL courses than the regular programs.
The Scope of Online Higher Education for the Universities
The Indian government for the first time in decades has allowed the Universities to function from fully to partially online modes, depending on the nature of the courses. This is like opening the gates of higher education to all through the digital window. So, the education that was limited to the bounds of classrooms and a handful of universities is now reachable for several remote enthusiastic learners. Although the Universities are cautious at every step of digitizing education, it is a good start not only for the education facilitators but for everyone.
At the moment, the government has allowed the top 100 Indian institutions that are ranked as per the National Institutional Tanking Framework may fully operate online except for the medical and law degrees, but the foreseeable future has the hope of progressive changes.
Indian Government is, in fact, in the process of drafting important policies surrounding online higher education. These policies outline the role of digital education in reforming the Indian education system and thus, the need to expand access to online higher education.
More Enrolments, More Colleges Taking Higher Education to New Horizons
Once in place, these government policies will not only enable the Universities to develop their online programs but also recognize the programs offered by foreign institutions. Until now only 25% of the Indian youths had access to higher education but the government aims to raise this percentage to 50% with the help of online and blended learning. So, Universities going online also means a higher number of enrolments and enrolments irrespective of geographical limitations. Thus, bringing a drastic change in the higher education sector.
On the other hand, several colleges had been running low or with lesser vigor due to the absence of full-fledged campus facilities, and resources to accommodate the higher demands of the increased number of students. With no financial support to enhance the campus infrastructure, these open universities had to battle operational issues and lesser enrolments. Online education can address this major issue greatly by powering colleges and universities to boost their capacity without an extra financial burden.
Digital Transformation in Indian Universities: The Early Movers
Digital transformation in Indian universities has been gaining momentum, driven by the need for increased accessibility, modernization, and a growing digital infrastructure. The pandemic accelerated this shift, with nearly 50% of higher education institutions adopting some form of online learning by 2021, according to a survey by the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE). Platforms like SWAYAM, an Indian government initiative, now offer over 2,000 online courses to students across the country. Additionally, a report by KPMG and Google estimates that India’s online education market will reach $1.96 billion by 2021, up from $247 million in 2016, with higher education making up 39% of this market. Universities are increasingly using digital tools for virtual classrooms, assessments, and collaborative research, positioning India as a hub for digital learning in the coming decade.
Seven Universities have been fully operating online for the last few years and emerged as the flag-bearers in Indian Online Higher Education. They are Indira Gandhi National Open University, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy, and Amity University, Noida.
These institutions came to be recognized as the Early Movers.
Although, with slow progress, the universities will pick up the pace soon and India will have more movers, in the online education generation.
This is a significant step leading to the true democratization of higher education in India. This also means, increased enrollments and completion, reducing several higher education accessibility barriers.
No More Vanilla Degrees
In the current times, single institutions in India over two-year or four-year degree courses. Change is coming in this regard too. The landscape could become a lot more modular, with students taking courses for credit from multiple institutions around the world. This will be a breakthrough in encouraging global partnerships. However, the problem that needs to be addressed alongside is preparing job-ready graduates.
Universities are integrating with cloud platforms to offer online courses. In this regard, several universities are enabling online education with the help of platforms. As industries are more interested in hiring candidates with relevant skills and knowledge instead of individuals with vanilla degrees, the stake is on the Universities and the curriculum they are offering through online mediums. This is also important in making the individuals job-ready after the degree course.
Conclusion:
In 2024, digital transformation in Indian universities has seen remarkable progress, driven by the integration of advanced technologies to enhance the learning environment. The rapid adoption of learning management systems (LMS), virtual classrooms, and cloud-based digital library platforms has enabled universities to provide more accessible and flexible education. According to a report, India is home to over 580 million people aged 5-24, making it one of the largest markets for digital education. The online education market in India is projected to reach USD 225 billion by 2025, with universities implementing smart campuses, leveraging AI, IoT, and data analytics to improve efficiency and student engagement. Virtual labs, online learning platforms, and hybrid models are becoming increasingly common, allowing for a more personalized and dynamic education system
Mintbook has done extensive work in the field for years and has offered its robust digital library and LMS for universities and government colleges. It has made up a huge repository of online higher education coursebooks so that higher education no more remains a tedious task for the institutions or the students.
This article has been republished in October 2024.
