The New Normal: E-Learning Demands Digital Certificates

The e-learning industry will triple in size between 2020 and 2025. According to Skillscouter, 50% of students participated in e-learning in 2019. In order to attract and enrol students, educational institutes will have to establish trust in the new landscape.

Why, and what sort of trust?

Fake marksheet scams are becoming an epidemic.

In the last year, India has reported many cases of forged certificates and fake universities. One such incident was brought to light by The New Indian Express when students of SVM college (batch of 2018) realised their certificates were fake.

As an institution, you will have to establish the reliability of your course content and the certificates you issue. This will remove any reasons students may be sceptical about applying to your institute.

Be part of the booming online education market

The Indian online education market will grow at a Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 20% by 2020. The number of users enrolling in online education may touch 9.6 million users by 2021. The revenue associated with it may be worth $1.96 billion.

You can be part of this offline to online shift and increase your revenue.

What do you need for it?

• Student enrolments
• Course curriculum and template
• A tool to conduct online classes
• Learning material or resources to share
• Process of assessing or documenting student Learning
• Digital course completion certificates

Digital education is the ‘New Normal’

Currently, India is facing a shortage of competent skilled workforce. And companies are not hiring or promoting employees due to their lack of knowledge or skills. If your institute provides training programs that include technical skills development, vocational training and soft skills, you are part of India’s vision to bridge the gap between skills and employment.

E-learning is the safety net for professionals and educational institutions to gain new skills and improve business.

The direct impact of online courses is helping candidates build new skills and secure jobs.

Apart from the course itself, an important factor to consider is the certificate that is issued. If your certificate or quality of training fails to meet industry requirements, students who enrol on your training programs will not only end up with unusable certificates, but will also tarnish your reputation.

So, here is how you can increase your odds of being successful in the digital landscape:

• Offer industry-relevant training
• Impart job-ready skills that employers are looking for
• Be part of a larger system that will offer your institute global recognition
• Leverage new technologies like blockchain to issue and control certificates

Why use blockchain to issue and control educational certificates?

Blockchain is one of the most secure technologies available.

It can be applied at multiple levels, from collecting and documenting student data to verifying and authenticating student identity.

Where can you issue digital certificates placed on the blockchain?

Certif-ID! A skills-driven networking platform built on blockchain technology.

• You can list and manage your courses – Create batches and track student learning
• Single or bulk issue digital certificates – Reduces manual work, time and cost involved
• Apply data analytics – Improve operations, management and student learning outcome

Simplify certificate verification

Your students will show your certificate while applying for new jobs or higher education. Every time they share their certificates, it will be verified by a background verification company. This, in turn, lands with your administration office.

Using blockchain technology to issue digital certifications, you can simplify the entire process. A digital certificate issued on Certif-ID can be shared with recruiters. The recruiters can either use the links or the QR code present on the certificate to verify them. It removes a lot of manual work and costs involved.

What’s more, you can customise the certificates, add levels of skills mastered, course and accreditation body details and more. Another benefit of using blockchain is that the certificates are stored permanently and it can be accessed at anytime from anywhere.

This initiative reduces the risk of fake certificate scams and adds tremendous amounts of trust and transparency. Thereby, increasing students’ confidence in pursuing a course from your institute.

We say you should embrace change, ‘the new normal’, and attract more students.

I’m sure you have more questions, please feel free to write to me or chat with our experts.

Author:  Rakshit Manga | Sales Director | Certif-ID