The Impact of Distance Education on Global Education

 

Not very long ago, higher education was a luxury that was only limited to a small section of society. This was largely due to the high monetary investment that college education requires. However, today the scenario has changed and almost every individual has access to affordable and high-quality higher education. This sudden transformation in the affordability of higher education does make one wonder what changed?

The advent of online and distance education colleges have made it possible for millions of students to pursue their academic goals by presenting an economical solution for their learning needs. Learning through distance mode is not only pocket-friendly but also offers students the flexibility to learn at their own pace from the comforts of their homes. The best part is that you can study from any part of the world without even stepping a foot out of your house. 

Distance Learning & the Future of Global Education

The global online education market is expected to touch the $350 billion dollar mark by the year 2025. Every day, we witness some new transformations in the arena, leading to newer forms of learning. However, amidst all these innovations and breakthroughs, there are also rising speculations on whether the online mode of education is even conducive to the growth of the sector.

These speculations revolve around the concerns about the rise of online education being unplanned and rapid. After the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all higher education institutions have adopted distance and online modes of education. However, this shift with no training, little preparation and insufficient bandwidth can prove to be dangerous in the long run as it results in poor user experience and reduced quality of learning. 

However, one cannot negate the fact that distance and online education has been here for quite a long time now. And this has made room for advancement in both- the learning tools as well as the training of teaching faculty of distance mode. Furthermore, every day universities are looking to integrate emerging technologies into their teaching systems to provide a better learning experience to the students. 

Here, we are listing down a few ways in which distance learning can change the entire landscape of education for the better:

1. Budget-Friendly Higher Education

Distance courses are designed to make education more accessible to a large segment of society. The tuition fee for various courses in the distance mode is thus kept at a minimum so that individuals from all financial backgrounds get equal opportunities to learn. Not just this, but in the case of distance learning, a student also gets to save on other expenditures such as accommodation, commutation, etc. 

2. Flexible Learning Solution

One of the best things about distance learning programmes is that they can be customised according to the needs of an individual. Furthermore, a student can learn at his/her own convenience as there is no rigid schedule that needs to be followed. Students get access to study resources such as self-learning material, recorded lectures, etc. which they can use to enhance their knowledge. 

3. Closing the Gap in Opportunities

The distance mode of education helps bring individuals from all economic settings on an equal footing by providing learning opportunities to all students. It helps in reducing the inequality and income gaps between the higher and lower sections of society by equipping them with the same knowledge and skill set. 

4. Increased & Effective Learning

According to a study published by the World Economic Forum, students learn more effectively in the online mode of learning as compared to traditional classrooms. The study states that while learning online, students are able to retain 25-60% more than those who studied in a classroom setting. This is primarily due to the fact that students are able to learn at a faster pace online. Thus, they can revise the coursework multiple times and do value addition by referring to multiple resources. 

5. Opportunities for Skill Development

There are many studies that indicate that distance mode provides more opportunities for the professional development and personal grooming of a student. This is because, in the case of distance education, students have to be necessarily disciplined, as there are no teachers to monitor them. Furthermore, universities offer various value-added services to students such as certifications and career assistance services.

6. Paving the Path for a More Futuristic and Holistic Education

Another advantage of distance learning is the fact that it is more future-oriented and focuses on offering a holistic development experience to the students. While learning online, a student gets access to various technological tools such as online learning management systems, video conferencing tools, virtual tutoring sessions and language apps. This supplies them with the technical know-how of various important technologies that will be crucial in the future. Furthermore, students get access to discussion forums and doubt sessions which allow them the chance to interact with each other and get their doubts resolved.

Takeaway

Distance education is revolutionising the field of higher education. It is presenting a budget-friendly and technologically enabled solution to the higher education needs of a large segment of individuals. Students enjoy the flexibility to learn at their own pace and utilise multiple resources to consolidate their knowledge.