68% Rise In Pursuing Online Degree Courses: Report

After the pandemic, online education gained traction, with an 68 per cent rise in awareness compared to 2021. Notably, 96 per cent knew about self-paced, cost-effective online skill programs, according to a survey conducted by Shiksha.com. 

The report ‘Indian Student Preferences on Online Degree Courses’ provides an overview of the emerging trends in online degree courses, with a particular focus on the mindset of students from the technical stream and non-technical streams,theirmost pressing concerns regarding pursuing online degree courses, factorsin favor of taking online degree courses and also focuses on students’ reaction towards online degree courses offered by prestigious universities.

The students fellunder three categories- students who are enrolled in full-time degree programs, students who are pursuing online degree/certificate courses, and working professionals not currently enrolled in any educational program.

As per the findings of the report, non-technical fields like Commerce, Design and Science showed more interest in online degrees, surpassing technical disciplines. Around 60 per cent of technical respondents favored online degrees, especially in Technology and Engineering.

Also, 25 per cent of the students are concerned about the missing on-campus experiences and 23 per cent are doubtful about online course credibility. Job prospects worry (20%) due to credibility and instructional differences.

While 31 per cent valued online programs' accessibility and 23 per cent appreciated the convenience of flexible schedules while 19 per cent highlighted cost-effectiveness. Notably, exclusive content access fell to the fourth priority.

The survey says, interestingly, the bias against online degrees dropped from 36 per cent to 24 per cent, showcasing increased acceptance and credibility.

Also, a 68 per cent increase in two years showed a rising preference for online degrees from reputable institutions, underlining online education's growing recognition.