Why Online Higher Education Isn't for Everyone

Contents:

• A few statistics: how higher education is moving online
• Why online higher education has become attractive
• Why online education is not suitable for everyone

A little statistics: how higher education is moving online

Online higher education is becoming a key factor in the growth of the domestic market EdTech. More and more Russians are choosing this format of education, as confirmed by data from the Commonwealth of Online Higher Education (COHO). The study "Analysis of the Higher Online Education Market (EdTech + Universities)" indicates that by the end of 2023, total revenue in the online higher education segment increased by 131% compared to 2022, reaching 3.3 billion rubles. This growth underscores the growing interest in high-quality digital education and demonstrates the potential for EdTech development in Russia.

According to a recent study, more than 65% of the online higher education market consists of programs developed in collaboration between universities and EdTech companies. In 2020, the online master's program in Data Science, created jointly by Skillfactory and NUST MISIS, became a pioneer in this field. Since then, revenue from such programs has increased eighteenfold: from 34.8 million rubles in 2020 to 631 million rubles by 2023. Growing interest in online education and collaboration with EdTech companies confirms the relevance and demand for such programs among students and professionals.

In 2023, 85% of students chose a distance master's degree, while 15% chose a bachelor's degree. The growing popularity of online master's degrees is due to the characteristics of the target audience. These are primarily adults seeking to combine study with work. Often, these are already experienced professionals looking to expand their professional skills and move into related fields. Distance learning provides them with the flexibility necessary to achieve their career goals.

In 2023, HSE University became the leader in the number of online first-year students among universities, thanks to the launch of its online campus last year. ITMO University is in second place, and MIPT is in third place. Skillfactory is first in the EdTech sector, followed by Skillbox and Netologiya.

IT technology is the most popular field among students. Key areas include digital product management, information and cybersecurity, as well as machine learning and data science. These fields offer extensive career opportunities and are in demand in the labor market. Students who choose IT specialties gain skills that will help them successfully compete in the rapidly changing digital world.

Why online higher education has become attractive

The growth in revenue in the online higher education segment is due to the increasing number of students choosing such programs. Last year, 3,539 people were enrolled in online programs in Russia, which is a 26% increase compared to 2022. This demonstrates the growing popularity and demand for online education, making such programs attractive to universities seeking to expand their audience and improve their financial performance.

McKinsey experts predict that the online segment of higher education will continue to grow globally, and the number of students studying online programs will increase. This trend is driven by the many advantages of online learning. Distance learning programs offer flexibility in choosing the time and place of study, access to a variety of educational resources, and the opportunity to learn from leading experts from around the world. In the context of modern realities such as the pandemic and globalization, the online format is becoming increasingly popular, making it an important component of the higher education system.

The benefits for students include several key aspects. Firstly, students gain access to a high-quality education, which contributes to their professional development. Secondly, studying relevant topics and skills increases competitiveness in the labor market. Students also have the opportunity to develop critical thinking and a creative approach to problem solving. Finally, interaction with professors and peers allows them to broaden their horizons and establish useful contacts, which can subsequently be useful in their careers.

• Flexibility. The online format allows students to combine distance learning with their main activities, adapting the learning process to their schedule—watching video lectures and completing assignments at a convenient time. As noted above, this is a very important aspect given the specific target audience of online higher education programs: they can earn a degree without interrupting their work.
• Accessibility. The distance learning format allows students from any region and from abroad to study at leading universities in the country. According to HSE University, in 2023, residents of 66 regions of the Russian Federation and 11 countries worldwide, including China, the USA, Peru, Haiti, Mexico, Moldova, Greece, and Turkey, joined the online campus.
• Experienced teachers. Distance learning programs are taught not only by academic lecturers from the scientific community, but also by practicing experts. EdTech companies have greater opportunities than universities to hire such specialists and compensate them adequately.
• Versatility. A master's program provides both applied, purely practical skills (so-called hard skills) and fundamental knowledge that expands the range of available positions and provides the opportunity to continue academic education.
• Friendly customer service. Student support in such programs typically consists of two lines: organizational and expert. Students receive expertise from mentors, university faculty, course authors, and partners. Coordinators help students maintain motivation, maintain momentum, and master program materials on time.
• Flexible skills. In the modern world, it's not necessary to sit in an office—many teams, especially in IT, work remotely from different locations around the world. Participating in such distributed teams has its own unique characteristics, and online learning prepares students for working in them. They learn to interact with classmates and professors remotely and manage their time effectively.

The advantage of using online learning for universities is a significant expansion of their target audience. Distance learning opens access to master's and bachelor's degrees for students from all over Russia, including those who are not prepared to travel for traditional on-campus education. This allows educational institutions to attract more applicants and increase the level of competition, which in turn contributes to improving the quality of education and the development of educational programs.

If If the university lacks a modern distance learning system (LMS or LMS), it can be improved through partnerships with major EdTech companies. These companies have highly developed platforms and expertise in organizing distance learning, which allows them to address the institution's shortcomings and ensure a high-quality educational process. Collaboration with EdTech partners facilitates the implementation of innovative solutions and improves access to educational resources, thereby increasing the university's competitiveness in the educational services market.

Why Online Education Isn't Right for Everyone

Distance learning is a conscious choice, considering its advantages. However, this format is not suitable for everyone. Students' expectations often don't match reality, which can lead to dropout. Even at prestigious universities with traditional offline programs, which attract the most motivated applicants, 20 to 25 percent of students do not complete their studies. It is important to consciously choose a learning format and consider your personal capabilities and preferences.

Online programs typically have a higher attrition rate, and according to our data, it is around 30%. The reasons for this can be varied: students' circumstances may change during their studies, or they may drop out due to academic failure. However, an important factor is that successful online learning, especially in the long term, as in higher education, requires high motivation and self-regulation skills. This includes the ability to independently organize and control your learning process. Unfortunately, not all adult students have developed such skills, which leads to a higher dropout rate.

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The ideal online student has a number of qualities that help him successfully complete his studies. Firstly, he demonstrates a high level of self-organization. The ability to manage one's time and adhere to a class schedule allows one to successfully master the material. Secondly, persistence is key. A student who does not give up in the face of difficulties is able to overcome all obstacles on the path to knowledge acquisition.

The third characteristic is proactive learning. The ideal student asks questions, participates in discussions, and strives to expand their knowledge beyond the course. The fourth important quality is the ability to self-analyze. They regularly evaluate their achievements and identify areas for improvement, which contributes to their growth.

The fifth characteristic of an ideal student is motivation. Having a clear goal and understanding why they are taking the course helps them stay on track. Finally, the sixth characteristic is openness to new ideas and approaches. The willingness to perceive new knowledge and apply it in practice makes a student more successful.

These qualities will help not only complete the online course but also significantly improve the level of knowledge and skills in the chosen field.

Effective learning in online higher education often faces a number of obstacles. In our opinion, the main factors that hinder successful learning are the following.

• Difficulty maintaining academic discipline. There is a stereotype that online programs imply a lack of strict academic discipline and progress monitoring. This is not true. The requirements for students are no different from those in the traditional offline format. Online higher education programs have strict deadlines that prevent students from skipping the entire semester and motivate them to complete assignments on time. Failing students are usually expelled during the first year of study.
• Inability to manage time. Effectively studying online requires strong time management skills. Putting off tasks until the last day will not work. You will have to either learn to plan your study load or choose a different learning format.
• Lack of real learning goals. The online format is only suitable for highly motivated students who know exactly why they are studying, where and how they plan to apply the knowledge they have acquired. This allows them to complete the program. However, some goals stated during admission may indicate a low likelihood of completing the course. Examples of such vague or inappropriate goals: "I want to get at least some kind of diploma" (i.e., studying only for the sake of a diploma), "My parents insisted" (I lack my own motivation), "To figure out what I want to do in the future" (i.e., it's not yet clear whether this field is interesting), "Because everyone is learning online now." Such students may find it more difficult to maintain discipline and interest throughout the course, which increases the risk of early termination. Loss of engagement in the learning process. To combat this phenomenon, online programs use modern technologies that, among other things, measure student activity levels in synchronous online classes and while learning on the LMS platform, capturing metrics such as tab switching, time spent on the active tab of the video conferencing service, during the online lesson, participation in interactive activities, and questions in the chat. While this type of monitoring helps some students engage with the learning process, others still drop out.

All online master's programs have coordinators who help students achieve their educational goals and navigate the learning process. However, it's important to remember that the presence of mentors and other support mechanisms cannot completely replace a student's personal motivation and self-discipline. Therefore, a certain percentage of student attrition is natural, which is a normal occurrence in online education. Students should understand the importance of active participation in learning and develop self-management skills to successfully complete the program.

For developers and organizers Online higher education programs must clearly understand their target audience. Master's programs, aimed at a more mature and self-aware audience, are particularly in demand in the online format. Creators of such programs must consider that the actual target audience is limited not only by financial means and motivation for study, but also by their ability to learn independently. The success of online education depends on an accurate analysis of student needs and preferences, which allows for tailoring content and teaching methods to achieve the best results. The ideal candidate for an online higher education program is someone with successful online learning experience and a clear understanding of their educational goals. When developing and promoting online programs, it is important to focus on this target audience, rather than on all potential students. This will allow for more effective meeting student needs and improving the quality of the educational process. Understanding the characteristics and requirements of this group will help create programs that are not only relevant but also in demand in the education market.