Why Distance Learning

Distance Learning started as a fad, became a fashion, turned into convenience, and is today not only an integral part of mainstream education but also compares favorably, if not more, than traditional education formats. Distance Education is changing the way we study, and reaching out to those who would have otherwise missed out on a career or a better quality of life. Here’s how:

Students: You can standardize College education, structure learning schedules, follow pre-fixed regimens, offer courses and curriculums that are uniform, and mass-produce education, but what about the student for whom all this is meant? Can a student be similarly standardized, structured, regimented, uniform and a mass-produced commodity? Can an individual who by nature is unique be retro-fitted to fit into a system? That’s the fault lines in the traditional learning format and that’s also why and how distance learning became an idea whose time had come.

Distance Education allows a student to learn when he wants, whether it be in the morning, mid-day or in the evening or night, or during weekends. What works for one may not work for another. By keeping study flexible, distance education more than meets the mindset and the inclination of a student.

Working professionals: To make learning go where you go is the dream of all working professionals who also aspire to study as they work and move up the ladder. The option of being able to study during off-hours is a truly empowering choice for such working people. Organizations today are willing to invest in further education of their employees. That’s another reason why distance learning is increasingly become more popular and acceptable.

The above holds good equally if not more for working parents and homemakers.

Distance learning programs also evolve over time adapting to the changing needs of the students fraternity. In fact, at West Wood University, we have innovated this further by adapting the Courses and Programs offered to the actual knowledge base of the student. For example, a student not only decides the pace of his study, he/she can also finish the Degree/Course before its scheduled duration. We also offer one-on-one counseling/teaching/interaction with the faculty through multiple modes such as phone, email, or text message, so as to individualize and customize the learning process for the student.

Technology too has played a major role in making distance learning affordable and far more viable than traditional education. In the latter case, institutions are forced to pump in lot of capital with heavy investment in infrastructure and also incur a lot of overhead costs throughout the year, which are inevitably passed on to the student. The student too has to incur a lot of expenditure on commuting and other daily needs, all of which are eliminated in the case of distance learning. Thus distance learning has the advantage of affordability and avoiding wasteful expenditure.

Distance learning means education comes to your doorstep. Isn’t it a dream?

WHY DISTANCE EDUCATION IN INDIA?

India is both a captive and niche market for distance education. The country is host to the youngest population in the world, and soon will comprise the biggest middle class in the world. If India can boast of cent per cent literacy, it can achieve anything it puts its mind to. Actually, the easiest way for India to become the world’s super power is by reaching quality education to its masses. And the most cost effective way of achieving this is through distance education. Figure out the math: Traditional education systems require an investment of thousands of crores of rupees for reaching --% of Indians who are estimated to be illiterate. In contrast, distance education can realize the goal at a fraction of the cost.

Distance education also works as a boon for the semi-literate or illiterate sections of India, who are in danger of being left out of all the good things happening around them. They are the ones who make up the unemployed list, and soon become unemployable. They may be also joined by their “educated cousins” viz. the better qualified ones who are unable to upgrade their academic background or skills, and become frustrated. Together, they form a mini-India which will be a countervailing negative force that will forever shackle the country’s overall development. From this perspective, distance education in India is not really an option, but mandatory, not a luxury but a necessity.

Distance education can also empower the educated folks by offering them an opportunity to study further while they work and keep up with the trends and times of career advancement.

The Great Indian Dream can be for real - with distance education.