Key Findings of the Whitepaper

• The rate of the rising cost of education is 2.5 times more than the rate of inflation, thus increasing dropout rates. Online education is more cost effective in the long run.
• India has a fragmented education market, with the majority of the institutions concentrated in and around Tier 1 cities and a few in Tier 2 cities. Online education provides better accessibility, thus reducing migration.
• The need for change is link online education with apprenticeships to improve employability.
• Harnessing technology to provide education to more than 263 million kids globally thus improving the learning ecosystem
• Today’s professionals require learning options that do not hamper their work-lives. Online education provides that advantage. They can stay updated on the changing market conditions, and develop the required skills to be a part of those markets. The reskilling component for adult learners is expected to grow at 22.23% by 2022.
• Need of the hour is manoeuvre a positive mind-set towards online education.
• Strengthen the digital infrastructure for India to reach 900 million internet users by 2023. The system is still struggling with its problems – accessibility and over standardisation, and lack of specialisation. There is a serious need for deregulation and privatisation of the education sector.
• Online education certificates are still not accepted as core education qualification by industries and this can be discouraging for learners. Things are changing fast though.
• To sustain and flourish in the new world of work, driven by automation and digitalisation, there is a need for a new learning paradigm that focuses on strengthening the current institutional structure and creates a flexible system for students and professionals.
• Online education is beneficial for companies, as it raises employee engagement by 18%, increases productivity among workers and can boost company revenues by over 40%.

Embedding Employability in Higher Education Institutions for Student Success