India is set to launch its first digital university in 2023, which aims to provide flexible higher education options and improve employability in emerging areas.
The university will initially offer certificate and diploma programs, with degree courses to follow. The digital content will be hosted on the SWAYAM platform and administrative services will be managed by the Samarth platform.
This is seen as a big step towards the digital transformation of education in India.
Article Contents
Introduction
India’s first national digital University is a landmark initiative that is set to revolutionize the country’s education sector.
According to an article published in Forbes, India’s ed-tech industry is growing at a fast pace and is predicted to reach $10.4 billion by the year 2025 with 37 million paid users for edtech tools. Economic Times reports that India’s education technology industry’s market reach will be $30 billion by the end of this decade.
This step of starting a digital university makes high significance as India has seen a positive trend in Edtech adoption in recent years, According to a report by KPMG, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital education in India, with a significant increase in the number of students and teachers using online platforms.
The Launch of the National Digital University can be seen as another big step in digital education after the launch of a digital course library by the Government of India, The Indian government has been actively working towards digitizing the education sector for several years now.
In 2018, the government launched the SWAYAM platform, which provides free online courses from top universities and institutions. The platform currently offers over 2,000 courses in various subjects, and over 30 lakh students have enrolled in these courses so far.
Let’s connect the dots and comprehend the timeline of India’s digital education development-
The year 2002- NPTEL initiative
The National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), which was established by the Indian government in 2002, gives professors and students access to online courses and digital libraries.
The year 2014- Introduction of ePathshala
The Indian government introduced the ePathshala initiative in 2014, which gives students in classes one through twelve free access to digital textbooks and other educational tools.
The year 2015- Launch of the SWAYAM platform
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and other digital learning resources from prestigious Indian colleges and institutions are available on the SWAYAM platform, which was introduced by the Indian government in 2015.
The year 2017- Enhancement of reach of MOOCs through DTH
The SWAYAM Prabha programme, which offers 32 top-notch educational channels to students nationwide via Direct-To-Home (DTH) services, was introduced by the Indian government in 2017.
The year 2020- Introduction of NEP with a focus on technology
The National Education Policy (NEP), which was introduced by the Indian government in 2020, aims to increase the use of technology and digital tools in education and the creation of digital infrastructure and educational materials.
To encourage digital learning and raise the standard of higher education in the nation, the Indian government plans to launch India’s first digital university and create the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) in 2023.
Considering this trend, it is expected that the government will keep technology as a focus of the growth of the nation in the education sector. The introduction of a national digital university is a key step in this journey.
Key factors that draw the attention of the government towards the launch of India’s first national digital university-
1. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital education in India. With schools and colleges closed across the country, students and teachers have had to turn to online platforms to continue their education.
According to a report by BARC India and Nielsen, the average time spent on educational apps in India increased by 30% during the pandemic. The report also stated that the number of downloads of educational apps in India increased by 115% during the same period.
2. Adapting to the Changing Needs of Students
Academicians should adapt to the changing needs of students and use technology to enhance the learning experience.
They should use digital tools to supplement traditional classroom teaching and develop innovative approaches to education.
Digital education provides opportunities for personalized learning and enables teachers to provide instant feedback to students, helping them to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
What is a key takeaway for academicians?
Edtech is the next big thing in the education sector, academicians and the management of the institutions must adapt the new technologies to keep up with the pace of the ever-transforming education system of India. Edtech adoption will remain a key focus area for the government in the upcoming period.
Conclusion
The launch of the national digital university is undoubtedly one of the biggest developments in the Indian education system. In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the acceptance of digital education systems across the country.
Digital learning is becoming a vital part of education due to its various advantages, and the national digital university will further increase the importance of digital education.
One of the key aspects associated with the national digital university is that it will make quality content accessible to everyone.
It will break the geographical barrier and make it possible for students to take the course remotely and at their convenience.
Considering all these factors and the overall trend of the education sector in India, it is evident that the Indian education system is focusing on technology-driven growth, and the academicians are also supporting this futuristic approach of the government.
