The United Kingdom is leading the shift away from face-to-face learning and training towards e-learning. The unprecedented events of 2020 and 2021 vis-a-vis the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in a paradigm shift in education.
Traditional learning models have given way to online learning, with increasing numbers of educational institutions.
An estimated 91.7% of students across the United Kingdom have access to a home-based computer. The Internet broadband speed of computers averages 67.2 Mbits per second, which is substantially less than the top 5 countries. The following ranking countries boast high-speed connections, despite scoring poorly in terms of the quality and quantity of online education courses:
- Norway – 127.2 Mbits per second
- Denmark – 141.7 Mbits per second
- Switzerland – 155.9 Mbits per second
- Luxembourg – 114.3 Mbits per second
- Netherlands – 112.8 Mbits per second
Warrington Worldwide recently posted an op-ed about ‘22,000 young people attend virtual career and education events’ by David Skentelbery. The shift towards virtual learning is well underway in the UK.
UK Leads the Way with Tech Infrastructure for Online Learning
An extensive study by Preply – a digital learning platform – has unearthed in-depth insights into the tech infrastructure across 30 OECD countries. Notable findings in the study suggest that the prevalence of online education courses in the UK (4281+ courses) exceeds the combined total of major European countries including the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Germany. The UK government also allocates a substantial portion of government spending to education per pupil, currently at 38% of GDP per capita.
While the UK is currently placed at #16 overall, and #1 for access to online education, much work remains to be done. The UK currently spends far less per hour on tutors at £14.60 than other European nations such as Denmark at £26.56, or France at £17.17. Internet connectivity speeds and broadband access are bugbears that the UK has to improve upon to rank among the top contenders.
How Coronavirus has Accelerated the Move Towards E-Learning
Social distancing measures and lockdowns were central to the unprecedented shift towards e-learning. Educational institutions including primary schools, high schools, and universities sought innovative solutions through technological measures. Traditional education pivoted from an in-person model to an online model, with great success. Clearly, institutions of higher learning are pushing the envelope for digital transformation in a big way. It is becoming an existential necessity.
The online learning industry is accessible to students anywhere, and everywhere. Over the past two decades, there has been robust growth in this industry, much of it coming in the last two years. Indeed, the pandemic is reshaping online learning in a big way. And it’s not just students who are benefiting, it’s employees at companies too. An incredible 94% of employees are more prepared to stay with a company that invests in employee training and development. By 2026 the total global e-learning market is expected to grow exponentially, topping $370 billion (£260 million).
Even after the vaccinations, when the pandemic is finally brought under control, the convenience, and cost effectiveness of online learning will only grow. Online learning has been shown to deliver substantially improved results across the board, with more learners satisfied with their online experience, more people prepared to learn online than in person, and more material learned online than with traditional off-line learning methodology. Clearly, e-learning is here to stay, and the data supports that.
