Distance learning cos forced into online space

With technology companies increasingly encroaching upon the distance learning space, traditional distance learning companies are being forced to shift online.

Sikkim Manipal University, the country's second-largest distance learning provider with around 3.2 lakh students, is the latest to enter the web-assisted distance learning market, which is seeing frenetic action from the likes of NIIT Technologies, Everonn Systems and Hughes Network Systems.

"We felt the need to go beyond offering just print material, counselling sessions and satellite lectures," says Anand Sudarshan, CEO of Manipal Education, one of the biggest education players in the country.

Though not a novel move, the company's decision to deliver lessons through the internet will certainly help grow the 'hybrid' distance education market manifold.

As of now, there are around 1.1 crore higher education (beyond 12th standard) students in the country, about 15-20 lakh of whom are enrolled with different distance education programmes.

In terms of numbers, the market is dominated by the non-profit Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), which accounts for around 30% of the pie, and Sikkim Manipal University, with around 20%.

In comparison, the largest tech-enabled distance learning player, Hughes Network, has only around 3,500 students per year, followed by NIIT Technologies, with around 1,500 students. The total market is estimated at 8,000-10,000 students per year.

Unlike the traditional distance learning model, the 'hybrid' model uses a quasi-classroom approach, merging both the traditional student-teacher model and the internet-based model through technology.

While IGNOU and Sikkim Manipal propagated the traditional model, supplemented with weekly counselling or 'contact' classes, the new tech-savvy players used the internet and telecom networks to create the illusion of a live classroom through networking. Most of the courses are conducted by faculty from reputed institutes such as the IIMs.

"What we found was that when you rely purely on a web-based model, with people sitting at home and doing things on their own, it did not work," says Udai Singh, executive vice-president at NIIT Tech. "Anytime, anywhere learning soon became no-time, nowhere learning. It turned out that peer pressure and certain encouragement and interaction with an instructor is also required to keep students motivated."

With about 80% of the students enrolled for management and IT related subjects, Sikkim Manipal is hoping students will take to its combination of live satellite lectures and archived video and other learning material on its online platform, EduNxt.

"We are starting off on a small scale, but our goal is to soon reach a level where we can give a pre-loaded, connected netbook that will enable every new student to be part of a live, interactive learning experience," Sudarshan said, adding, the company is talks with computer makers for supply of cheap 'netbooks'.