`Online education in India looking up'

What is the status of online education in India?

Our education system is such that students are spoon-fed. The problem was to educate people on the benefit of online education. The main challenge was to change people’s mindset. There were apprehensions about online education. But a recent survey showed that 63 percent thought that online and e-learning is equally good or better than classroom teaching. The figure was 52 percent in 2003. So there’s a shift towards online education. People are accepting online education. With the number of internet users increasing, online education in India is looking up. Mindset on online is changing.

You have introduced Master of Management in International Business for those having no work experience. Can you elaborate on the course?

Though the programme is open for all, it is targeted at IT professionals. Today many IT professionals manage a team. Through the course we intend to provide them the required skill set that would make them at par with an MBA. The programme does not make them MBAs but they would have the skills to become an MBA. They can also upgrade with an additional six modules to become an MBA.

What further innovative courses can be expected from U21 in the years to come?

We are a university. We would continue to introduce new courses depending on the need and demand.

How are the Indian corporate adopting U21’s online courses?

A lot of Indian corporate are getting interested in our course. We offer customized programs to these corporates. Recently we had signed up with Virtusa for Certificate of Global Business Leadership and Indian Oil Corporation for Hybrid Certificate Programme in Project Management. Very soon we are going to have formal agreement with Symphony. Over 3000 Satyam employees are involved in the program Certificate of Global Business Leadership. The program, which we are offering to Wipro and TCS are going fine.

Are you also looking at more tie-ups with educational institutes in India?

We are trying to have some Indian universities to join our program. We are talking to some of them. Right now it is yet to be finalized. We are going to launch management programme for entrepreneurs and family business at IIM, Bangalore from December 4. It is a four-term course with each term having a span of four months. The course is part residential and part non-residential.

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