Online degree programmes have over the years gained traction among Indians. Be it students or professionals, everyone is using these online programmes to expand their horizon of knowledge. There are platforms that are offering seamless online programmes that provide the aspirant the ease of learning at their own pace.
Whether working or studying, a person can keep on learning new things and enhance their professional skills without leaving their job or other education they are pursuing.
For professionals, who need to upskill and reskill continuously, online degree programmes are a boon. These have emerged as the most convenient way to seek quality learning for today’s professional. With leading institutions taking up this mode, it has become easier for seekers to get quality education, which was till now only available to few.
The challenges in online courses
Online education is India is still in nascent stages even though there are over 500 distance learning degree providers in the country. This is because of certain factors that have been acting as a deterrent for many to pursue these courses. Some of these factors include the value of the degree, issues in mind of recruiters regarding quality of the course, among others.
However, things are changing with time. The Central Government earlier this year invited proposals from over 100 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to offer courses in online mode starting from 2019-20. This move was aimed at attaining the targeted GER of 30 per cent by 2020. In this initiative, Amity University Online was the first to be recognized to offer UGC approved online degree programmes. The university was selected based on high quality of education delivered with no difference between the value of in-campus and online degree.
Awareness is a must
Understanding that online courses have just arrived in the country, the online education industry will have to carve its way into the students’ minds. This would require institutes to effectively reach out to the right audience along with maintaining quality of education in the courses.
A lot of awareness will also be created from the initiatives the Central Government is taking to promote online learning. This will help in increasing the reach of quality education beyond campuses to every deserving student across the nation.
Enrollment criteria
There is all the intent to main high quality of education through online medium. There are stringent regulations around delivery platform, course material, assignments and assessment and each and every touchpoint n pedagogy including eligibility criteria for admissions.
Online course & MOOCs
Massive open online course (MOOCs) was a big step to make the best of the learning available to students all across the world. But there were gaps. These gaps are now being filled by formal guided learning experience through online degrees by valued and experienced institutions that have well-established learning pedagogy. The goal of achieving learning along with certification is what students are looking for nowadays, something which MOOCs couldn’t provide. That is the reason why course completion rates in MOOCs are dismal as compared to completion of an online degree course.