The Advantages of Outsourcing e-Learning

chillibreeze writer — Lasika Kannan

What is e-learning?

E-learning is the process of learning via computers over the internet and intranets. E-learning is also referred to as web-based training, online learning, distributed learning and technology for learning or Learning Management Systems (LMS).

The rapid development of the internet has facilitated its growth. E-learning uses the concept of distance learning but at a faster rate. E-learning provides faster learning at less cost, access to a large number of learning resources and accountability for all the participants, unlike traditional learning. It is made up of several components, including content delivery in multiple formats, management of the learning process and a networked community of learners, trainers, content developers and experts.

Why e-learning?

The learning can be on any level, elementary school, college, or corporate
No age-bar
It minimizes travel
Open for working people
Career oriented training easily available
No time constraint
Minimum infrastructure
Provides innovative and interactive learning
Makes it possible for a larger group of people to have access to and learn from experts
Is a preferred learning style for older audiences

The Team

An e-learning team consists of instructional designers, programmers, administrators, quality specialists, graphic artists and multimedia developers.

Why Outsource to India?

India is emerging as an e-learning outsourcing hub. Due to the widespread internet technology base, many Indian companies have the ability to provide part of the online solution. The cost of labor is less expensive in comparison to Europe and America, while the standards of efficiency and quality are no less. Several large multi-national companies do outsource to India.

The presence of large pools of competent and educated resources with technical skills makes India a valuable e-learning destination. Indian companies provide e-learning solutions to client corporate universities. The value chain includes design of corporate university, course creation and management of the e-learning portal. E-tutoring has emerged as a further evolution to the e-learning market. E-tutoring from India is in great demand in the USA.

In 2003 the Indian government launched an ambitious project of e-learning, e-governance and $2660 million was allocated to be spent in the next four years. The objective of this project was to take e-learning to schools in every district across the country to cover 6 lakh schools in India. Students would be able to use multimedia and other software to enhance their learning capabilities with the aid of computer labs set up for this purpose.

The government of Karnataka and IBM India signed a memorandum of understanding to promote e-learning within the state, in the year 2003. IBM has the global expertise in providing e-learning services infrastructure. IBM was to develop an e-learning platform for BITES (Board for IT Education Standards) for higher technical educational institutions. The e-learning platform with the government will create one such eco-system and develop educational institutions in the state as Centers of Excellence. The next few years will determine whether the dream of making e-learning available to our huge population becomes a reality.

Portfolio of e-learning projects that may be outsourced:

Course management
Curriculum development
Online assessment tool creation
Learning Management System integration
Distance learning product evaluation
Custom course creation
Conversion of books to interactive formats
Knowledge management systems (Repositories and portals)
Media production - video, audio, multimedia, graphics
Web based tutorial design and development
Outsourced online Instructors
Online game development
Consulting on e-learning products

Projected E-learning Revenues Worldwide:

The future of e-learning looks extremely bright. It was proposed that worldwide revenues for e-learning would be more than $23 billion by the end of 2004; this represents an increase of over $21 billion in five years. North America represents the largest opportunity for corporate e-learning and account for two-thirds of worldwide revenues. Western Europe represents the fastest-growing market, increasing its revenues at a compound annual growth rate of 97% from 1999- 2004. Currently the non-IT content of e-learning accounts for over 54% of revenues as compared to 46% from the IT content.

Conclusion:

India ranks 37th among the 82 countries assessed by the World Economic Forum for state of the art information technology systems. India is one of the 8 fastest growing economies in the world, because of new technology, infrastructure and intellectual capital. E-learning is a high growth area in India, thus leading to a continuous improvement in the e-learning process, technology and outsourcing processes. This along with the large pool of intellectual capital and cost arbitrage make India an attractive global outsourcing destination for e-learning.

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—About our writer:

Lasika says, "Live life to its fullest" is my motto and "Reach for the sky" my favourite book. I am a computer scientist by training and work as an analyst. I enjoy writing - be it on travel, technology or business processes."

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