The advent of the Internet introduced innovative ways of education, which
were far more efficient and less costly than the conventional classroom
approach. Online learning or e-learning has had an impact on all areas of
training ranging from engineering to accounting to business management and IT.
Currently, instructor-led training (ILT) accounts for 87% of the total
training market in the Asia-Pacific region. By 2004, IDC expects this to drop to
74% as e-learning and CD-ROM challenge ILT as alternative mediums of delivery.
While e-learning is not a solution for every training need, it definitely offers
a good low-cost answer to complement the prevailing traditional training
mechanisms.
IT training majors in India wer quick enough to see the potential offered by
this medium. Players like NIIT, ZILS and Aptech already enjoy a strong presence
in the area.
R Krishnan, senior V-P and head, Aptech Online, says, "Online education
is a convenient, cost-effective way of implementing learning in organizations
without requiring the person to be away from work." Although working
professionals are the main users in this segment , other segments such as
students, housewives are also being targeted.
"Online learning amounts to the clearly visible paradigm shift in the
methodology and acceptance of new modes of training," adds Joseph Chacko,
head of education services operations at Tata Infotech.
Indian e-learning scenario
In India, the IT training sector is driven by the individual rather that the
corporate training segment. The total IT training market estimated by DQ in
1999-00 stood at Rs 1,752 crore. Of this, the individual demand stood at a solid
Rs 1,588 crore with a 33% growth rate. As far as corporate training is
concerned, with the growing demand for IT professionals in the Asia-Pacific
region, e-learning is increasingly being viewed as an effective means. Yet, the
demand for corporate training in India stood at a mere Rs 164 crore in 1999-00
with an estimated growth rate of 15%. "The dynamism of the skill
enhancement requirements will force training managers to evaluate and adopt
virtual classrooms," feels Chacko.
The Indian online learning market scenario is dcurrently ominated by IT
training, with non-IT related training yet to establish itself. The reason for
this is two-fold. As Shantanu Prakash, CEO, Educomp Datamatics, puts it,
"Except in the field of infotech training, there are very few content
creation companies available and even fewer is the availability of solution
providers. Also, setting up an e-learning site is an extremely complicated
task."
Online IT training in India
is being led by NIIT (www.netvarsity.com)
and Aptech (www.aptechonlinevarsity.com).
They provide courses ranging form computer fundamentals to designing Web pages
to Java. Then there are other players such as SSI and Zee Interactive Learning
Systems, which are fast emerging as front runners. Netvarsity’s CEO PK Vijay
Kumar talks about the relationship between the online netvarsity and the
brick-centric model: Students can take part in sessions online and obtain
certifications from the nearest NIIT center, he says. These two models
effectively compliment each other. He mentions about the 150,000 registered
users of netvarsity and the 4.5 million page views per month that it receives.
Globsyn Technologies recently launched its ‘knowledge pub’ initiative
which combines both the CBT and online modules.
The scope of e-learning is not totally limited to IT-related training. Non-IT
training is also attracting both big and small vendors. Many international
universities and institutes too, attracted by Internet’s cutting-edge
distinction and promise of more students and revenues, are offering online
courses. This has made it possible to secure educational degree from foreign
universities without ever going out of India. "Individuals will be
encouraged to take up short-term skill enhancement programs to equip themselves.
This trend is already visible and acceptance of e-learning is gaining
momentum," says Chacko.
The benefits of online training include flexible timings for students and
savings in terms of physical infrastructure for vendors. Some companies in India
are adopting the e-learning approach. At Cisco, all kinds of training
requirements are available online. At LG too, most of the training systems are
available online, says Dr YV Verma, V-P, HR and MS.
Interactive distance learning (IDL) is a new concept, which is ready to be
launched by Hughes Escorts Communications (HECL). Among the first of its kind in
India, it aims at live broadcasts of teaching sessions from a central studio
through VSAT to locations across India. Says Amit Tripathi, V-P, IDL, HECL,
"This is the first such project of its kind in India. It will incorporate
two-way audio and one-way video transfer". HECL will initially be targeting
the corporate users of its VSAT network besides the mass-market segment where
training in areas ranging from sales management to preparation of entrance exams
will be imparted.
According to John Chambers, president and CEO, Cisco Systems, "The
Internet and education are two fundamental equalizers in life. E-learning
eliminates the barriers of time and distance, creating on-demand universal
learning opportunities for people, companies and countries alike."
With e-learning, the education and training segment is acquiring a
learner-centric focus. High-quality content will soon become the new
differentiator.
AMIT SARKAR in New Delhi