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The education sector in India is poised to witness major growth in the years to come. By the end of 2020, India will have the world’s largest tertiary-age population and second largest graduate talent pipeline. In order to meet this rising demand, and ensure increased access at a high level, it is important that the education sector leverages the opportunities offered by the IT sector.
In India, Internet users are fast multiplying. The penetration rate has now reached 35% of the total population, with some 462 million users. After the United States, India also has the second highest number of people enrolled in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). For higher education, this also represents great potential for expanding access through digital learning.
In this promising context, IIEP has published the new Foresight Paper Massive Open Online Courses: The emerging landscape of digital learning in India. In the report, author Karanam Pushpanadham reviews major initiatives undertaken by Indian authorities to facilitate lifelong learning for teachers, students, and those in employment that are looking for learning opportunities free of cost.
“A revolution is taking place at all levels of the education system. People have started to take their learning into their own hands and to view education as a lifelong practice. As a result, a new phase of education has emerged which places importance on digital learning,” the author writes.
The report covers an array of e-Learning programmes including those from India’s National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning, the National Repository for Open Educational Resources, and SWAYAM, an indigenous information technology (IT) platform hosting MOOCs.
It also draws lessons from India’s first generation of online learners. This is especially interesting for countries interested in capitalizing on the development of ICTs to increase access to higher education and to adopt innovative learning methods.
The burgeoning MOOC scene and other digital learning initiatives in India are also highly relevant for the large Indian diaspora, which includes some 25 to 30 million people of Indian origin living outside of the country.
Specific recommendations for educational planners are outlined at the end of the paper. These include the importance of reliable access to disruptive technologies, the contextualization of course content, the design of new credit transfer schemes, and the development of active strategies to reach all learners irrespective of their gender, location, and special needs.
Internet growth in India:
Read the full Report here and see all of our Foresight Papers.
