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Online learning booms in GCC during pandemic

FOR REPRESENTATION PURPOSE ONLY. Creative Commons
  • Online education is a valuable addition to a greater educational experience for many, especially busy professionals
  • The number of educational providers will expand, as will student adoption of more flexible options

The personal electronic devices industry has had a dream run over the past couple of years. One major reason is people being forced to work from home during lockdowns. Another being that desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones were increasingly used for entertainment, keeping in touch with near and dear ones, and for buying or ordering things online. That last one has led to an ecommerce revolution!

However, there is yet another factor that should get top billing with these for the reason personal electronic devices proliferated: Education.

Online learning has progressively grown in popularity, and the pandemic accelerated that growth enormously.

According to Coursera, as campuses closed and the employment market transformed in the wake of Covid-19, the world responded with a rising need for flexible, accessible online learning.

As with other regions, this has held true in the Middle East as well. Of Coursera’s 92 million learners worldwide, more than 5 million live in the Middle East, including 412,000 new enrolments in the past quarter alone.

Recent statistics from the CHLOE (Changing Landscape of Online Education (CHLOE)) 6 report, also revealed that approximately 60 percent of institutions have begun reevaluating their online learning goals because of the outbreak.

Online education is now deeply woven into education structures, displacing the previous reliance on traditional classroom teaching. As a result, a new hybrid form of education has arisen, combining both online and in-person teaching.

Considerable transition

Many educators believe that the combination is a more “practical” and “economic” approach to learning in the 21st century.

Anthony Tattersall, Senior Director of Enterprise EMEA at Coursera. Credit: Handout

According to Anthony Tattersall, VP of EMEA at Coursera, while online learning is a supplement to a broader educational experience, course enrollment statistics strongly imply that it is a vital aspect of professional growth for many particularly busy professionals.

“The forced adoption of online learning will lead to an enduring digital transformation of higher education, which will be defined by blended classrooms, job-relevant education, and lifelong learning at work,” Tattersall told TRENDS.

On the other hand, Fadl Al Tarzi, CEO of Nexford University, a Washington, DC-based online university, said the education sector was undergoing a significant transition due to the globalization of higher education and increased demand for high-growth industries needing distinctive skill sets.

He told TRENDS: “Learners are increasingly seeking entirely online degrees, notably master’s degrees. On the other side, professionals like organized flexibility that allows them to learn on their own time without having to abandon their work.”

Fortunately, GCC countries have a solid drive to integrate online education and EdTech innovations more extensively in their education systems.

With its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia, for example, has committed to strategically reforming its education policy, helping the kingdom’s universities and schools educate a workforce for the future’s diverse and knowledge-based economy.

Initiatives in Saudi Arabia, such as the Flexible Learning Pathways program launched by Saudi Education Minister Hamad Al-Sheikh, and the overall trend toward increased online offerings encouraged by education leaders across the GCC, prove that online learning provides the flexibility and affordability adult learners and parents seek.

The UAE, meanwhile, is home to a thriving ecosystem of EdTech companies. Global education technology suppliers have witnessed tremendous increases in subscribers in the region, and the UAE is currently one of the fastest-growing Edtech marketplaces.

According to Valustrat, the worldwide Edtech market is predicted to reach $40 billion by 2022, and the UAE’s EdTech business appears to be witnessing commensurate growth.

Will online courses replace university education?

Thanks to technology, learners may now access high-quality education from anywhere in the world, and Covid-19 has driven universities to embrace online and blended learning in more significant numbers than ever before.

Despite the benefits of the new learning system, Tattersall believes online education will not replace all the advantages that students gain from obtaining a degree on campus.

However, he also believes technology can assist online academies and learning centers in reaching the many students who cannot enroll in on-campus programs for various reasons.

“For some, traditional higher education is simply prohibitively expensive, while others have full- time jobs, family commitments, or other duties that preclude them from enrolling in a program,” he said.

“In addition, learning in a classroom may be impossible for children with disabilities. Online courses provide a fantastic opportunity to gain access to a world-class learning experience that would otherwise be unavailable,” he added.

Fadl Al Tarzi, CEO of Nexford University

Al Tarzi, on the other hand, believes almost every university now provides a few fully online degrees and courses. It is time for a paradigm shift in higher education that prioritizes learners and equips them with the skills they need to flourish now and in the future.

“There is no longer a typical university education,” he continued, “But rather campus-based degrees with online components.”

Concerns and challenges

Internet connections and advanced infrastructure are two of the most significant challenges students confront when dealing with online learning.

Except for several GCC countries working hard to speed up their networks, most areas still lack good internet speed, or even electricity!

“The absence of students in the Middle East is due to a lack of reliable internet connectivity, as well as conflicts and crises,” explained Al Tarzi.

He went on to say that for those who have access to education, classroom learning is frequently disrupted by ongoing conflicts.

Many people who receive education find themselves unprepared to enter modern digital workforces because they lack the skills demanded by companies.

Several studies have discovered a mismatch between skills and labor market requirements in the MENA region.

Nexford’s employer survey in Egypt revealed significant gaps between employer demand and labor market supply of workers with sought-after skill sets.

Graduates are frequently underequipped, with employers reporting significant skill shortages in fields such as creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication.

Aside from the obvious issues of connectivity and infrastructure, there are several regional imperatives.

For example, Coursera recommends showing Arabic content with suitable right-to- left alignment, or subtitling content to provide regional learners with a more seamless learning experience.

The advent of this new technology has transformed Coursera’s Arabic-learner experience.

Internet connections and advanced infrastructure are two of the most significant challenges students confront when dealing with online learning. Credit: Creative Commons

Future of education

Tattersall and Al Tarzi both agreed that the future of education would be online and mobile, and consumable whenever necessary.

According to Al Tarzi, this could translate to a course to learn a particular skill, a certificate for personal or professional development, or a degree to change careers or advance in a current one.

“The number of competitive alternatives for educational providers will keep growing, as will learner adoption of more accessible, flexible choices. Institutional collaboration and partnerships will be critical for providers to continue meeting learner needs at scale,” said Tattersall.

He added that technology would continue to facilitate the rise of remote work, allowing anyone, anywhere access to high-quality jobs.