Indian education is steering online

Long before we talked about cloud computing, education was on the cloud but it is only now that it has started to gain momentum. With IIMs and other premier institutes adopting online trends and technologies, students have something to cheer about. By Subhankar Kundu

The advent of the Internet has definitely helped the Indian education sector redefine its platforms and strategies for imparting knowledge. This was an imperative for India considering the sheer size of the country and the fact that our educational institutions have to cater to millions of students and offer them some degree of uniformity when it comes to quality of education. Now, with the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) taking strides to migrate the Common Admission Test (CAT) from the traditional paper-pencil basis to an online platform, it clearly shows how education and examination in India is gradually steering towards the online route. However, it must be noted that the glitches in conducting CAT online for the first time marred the show.

The introduction of online education in India was primarily undertaken to ensure that every person receives education irrespective of his or her location. Major universities in India were early adopters of online education. Moreover, the gap between rural and urban literacy rate became significant in India which called for a system that could bridge the same.

The growing popularity of online courses is because the technology provides flexibility to both teachers and students to participate in a course at anytime, from anywhere. Working students benefit the most as they can attend classes no matter what their work schedule might be as this model of education dissemination enables teachers to take a student-centered approach. Online courses are also helpful in avoiding distractions, missed classes, tiredness or boredom that often takes place in a physical classroom.

According to a survey done by Tata Consultancy Services called Generation Web 2.0, students today are shifting their academic and social life online and embracing the digital world as true digital natives.

Going online is relatively less intimidating than classroom-based education as the anonymity in the online model provides students with a level playing field undisturbed by extraneous factors like discrimination, egotism, background, gender related issues and seating arrangement. Online education addresses some of the inadequacies of education in the country including a dismal system, limited reach and an inadequate supply of faculty.

Keeping aside these societal factors, online education is a forward looking approach in terms of technological augmentation. Mindsets are changing and the adoption of newer technologies is taking place. Universities and institutes are embracing the inevitable trend of robust integration between education and technology.

Change is happening

Professional education is undoubtedly the major driving factor for online education. Streams like engineering, management, human resources, and mass communications are popular as they give room to working professionals to address the need to gain a deeper understanding of their chosen subject. Institutions, realizing the issues of staff shortages and student demands, are now embracing the model overwhelmingly.

For example, IIM Lucknow has embarked upon bridging the gap in the managerial capacity that is available. In the process, it has been scaling up the strengths of its traditional PG programs and has launched several specialized online programs.

The institute has a one year certificate program in General Management (e-CPGM) which is aimed at BPO and KPO employees or executives to groom them to take up managerial and leadership positions in their organizations. This program is delivered with 120 hours of online contact over a year.

Other IIMs have similar programs which are designed for managers at all levels, with work experience in medium and large organizations in the public, private or government sectors. Managers with recognized high-growth potential preparing for general management responsibilities and those seeking to consolidate their work experience with intense integrative inputs will find this program beneficial.

IIM Lucknow has an Executive General Management Program (EPGM) which is particularly relevant to first time leaders, project managers and those aspiring for managerial and business development roles in a business operation. The program is delivered online over a period of one year. In addition, there is a three-day workshop at the start of the program with three more days at its conclusion at the IIM Lucknow Campus.

Bharat Bhasker, Professor of Information Technology and Systems at IIM Lucknow, said, “The phenomenal growth witnessed by Indian industry in last decade, relatively unfazed by the global slowdown, has resulted in Indian industry facing myriad challenges the most critical one being the low level of frontline management expertise, particularly at the operational level. Most of these workers are typically self engrossed, young and eager to grow in their careers. Avenues for them to acquire professional skills and managerial competence are limited in India as such initiatives are confined to intra organizational, corporate learning drives.”

The change in the Indian business environment, as it broadens its base from purely a manufacturing one to a healthy mix of services and manufacturing is so dynamic and fast that there is an acute need of retraining professionals and employees at all levels.

“This has to be recognized as the critical roadblock for scaling and ensuring consistency of quality performance and productivity in the industry. As the scalability of traditional programs is limited and in order to meet and surmount the huge demand of managerial capacity, a scalable online approach is the need of the hour in India,” Bhasker continued.

Kavita Iyer, CEO of Minglebox.com opined that increased use of the Internet and technology in education was a welcome move because of the advantages that it brought with it, namely—ease of use, interactivity and greater flexibility as well as the ability to scale and reach out to a large number of users.

Minglebox.com, India's campus and education network with a user base of students and young professionals across the country was started by a group of IIT/IIM alumni in 2006. Minglebox.com helps students find the best colleges and courses through online admission help and counseling services. These products are offered across various segments including MBA, engineering, study abroad, vocational and IT courses as well as Bachelor's programs in various disciplines.

Iyer said, “At Minglebox we are constantly looking at new trends and requirements in the education space and building products to provide information and guidance to education seekers and a way for the educational institutes to connect with students.”

Minglebox.com was ranked the no.1 educational Web site in India and has the unique distinction of being the only educational site among India's top 150 Web sites as ranked by Comscore in 2009. Minglebox.com has students from over 250 cities.

Throwing light on imparting management education on an online platform, Bhaskar said, “Although, online education is not a true substitute for the traditional management education program, it does provide an individual, who for many reasons may not be in a position to disengage from the career path and pursue a full-time program, the opportunity to develop and hone managerial capabilities. Therefore, these specialized online programs groom individuals for upward mobility within and beyond their current organization. Also, online education does not tie up individuals to a single location; they can continue learning wherever they are positioned, transferred and relocated.”

IIM Lucknow claims that it continuously scans and identifies the demands of the industry and plans to launch new programs as and when the need arises.

Bhaskar said, “In the near future, we are planning to offer a six month program called Advanced Program in Sales and Marketing to meet the demand of sales and marketing professionals who are able to appreciate the linkage between marketing and sales and understand marketing research and consumer insights in the Indian context, evaluate and manage conflicts in distribution channels and are deft in recruiting, managing and leading sales teams.”

Aptech, another major player in the online education space in India shares a similar opinion.

Ninad Karpe, Managing Director and CEO, Aptech Limited, said, “More institutes are beginning to realize the importance of online education—using online testing both for pre-selection as well as for final assessment. The methodology is an attractive option since one caters to students from far off areas without the mandatory visits to colleges etc. There is huge demand for courses from the premier colleges who are usually limited by their on-campus restricted enrollment. Most premier institutes have started online education and are testing the waters to provide the same internationally.”

subhankar.kundu@expressindia.com