A recent report has been published detailing the development of e-Learning and online education in China. The report, by CompaniesandMarkets.com, identifies that the sector has reached its “growth stage”, increasing its market scale by 20.7 percent between 2006 and 2007 (from RMB 14.5 billion to RMB 17.5 billion). . So how will the industry develop from here? And what can the West learn from the success of China’s distance and blended learning systems?
Distance learning, online degree courses, and adult education have been popular in China for some time. This has been due to a number of factors, including the expansive and rural geography of the country, high competition for fewer enrollment places (comparable to the UK or US, at least), and recent government-spurred incentives to guarantee compulsory learning. for all, for example, the National Project for Compulsory Education in Impoverished Areas (established in 1995).
When it comes to e-Learning and its involvement in pre-school, primary and secondary education, the latest report does not reflect a full consolidation of the country’s vast school system, which is something that makes it quite different from the others. Those offering online education services for preschool children include individuals and companies, while more traditional primary and secondary schools are said to employ e-learning techniques and offer distance learning. The scale of the primary and secondary education market has increased by 18.5 percent between 2006 and 2007.
For higher education and older students, the report shows growth and diversification in online education, but an unimpressive continuation of doubts among members of the public about the value of diplomas from online institutions. Despite this, there is a healthy enthusiasm for online education for vocational certification and an increased demand for customizable services. Also, corporate e-learning is becoming more integrated with companies in hopes of improving services, especially during the last year. As a result, projections suggest corporate e-learning will grow 40 percent year over year through 2011.
China is an interesting country to discuss when it comes to distance education, due to the country’s rural and provincial-only governance of education, as well as its huge population. Consequently, the country has pioneered certain aspects of education through the use of online courses and media. This has not only included a Central Radio and TV University, but also remote institutions that cater specifically to niche markets, such as farmers and adult workers; It will be interesting to see how technological advances and greater accessibility to education in the coming years.