In Reading Between the Lines: Part 1
The education world is going through a process of churn and at a good measure at that. With a change in its firmament a new world order is emerging. As the positive tailwind propels the sector into new highs there are good news for the e-education segment as well.
There is a growing buzz and the words like global university, virtual classrooms, self-paced learning, are making the rounds more than ever before. In this transformation, the segment no doubt stands to gain and shine bright. Of interest, would be to see whether it gets ennobled in the process.
In a silent transformation, revolutionary changes are taking place in the education world. The armada of changes are marching in, bold and strong. In the process, a new world order is emerging.
What are the macro trends in this makeover? What are the change processes already evident at the corporate level, which the education community should take cognizance of? How as an individual one is likely to face the challenges of the new world?
Let’s check a few emerging trends in the first of the three part series…
A new world order:
The big picture of the education world is rapidly changing. There are new contenders coming up from Asia and Mideast challenging the Western world supremacy. Joint venture academic partnerships are bringing up ambitious academic campuses across the world. It is a manifestation of vision and money and as such the petro rich Gulf countries are taking the lead in this race.
Education is a big global business enterprise these days. The concept of academic in silos is fast disappearing. There has to be a blend of academic superiority and focus on revenue generation in running the show. With academic funding under stress, the institutions are likely to be run more on multidimensional objectives of maintaining the flagship of academic excellence on one hand and raising funds, partnership and restructuring to adapt to the emerging changes, on the other. As is the trend now, akin to a corporate recruitment the search for the right head of the academic institution is being done across a transnational canvas to get the right talent with eminent recruiting firms roped in to provide the required services.
In a bid to boost enrolment, educational institutes are aggressively resorting to self-promotion route in talking to the prospects through seminars and forums, education fairs and/or counselling bodies. PR to boost image is a now a common practice.
E-education, in this changing scenario is coming up in close focus. It is already popular with the universities. In an era of declining educational funding it helps overcome physical limitations of the classroom with the advantage of flexi time and lower costs.
A mix & match combination of ‘online learning and part time campus experience is argued to be the best trade-off blend. With the growing recognition, technology infusion in this line is happening with more sophistication coming in the e- platform technology and in having additional features to make the experience live and rich.
To top it up, e-education learning is increasingly getting the same status as that of the conventional campus courses as the leading universities are doing away with the divide between the two and offering more courses on online format. 
photo credit: swanksalot
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