Virtual Reality

The switch to online education has started. B-schools will have to evolve to survive

- Karthik Ravindranath

The meaning of being tech-savvy has changed significantly in the past few years—from knowing how to use social media to knowing how to protect your personal data. So, the tech-savviness required for virtual learning is now commonplace. And, the argument that e-learning is impersonal and non-collaborative no longer carries any merit as virtual courses have become quite interactive.

Still, as a matter of perception, online learning is not considered on a par with on-site learning. It is this perception that India’s best b-schools are challenging, and they are delving into the world of virtual learning like never before. “E-learning has become a significant trend in today’s fast-changing business world, facilitating students with relevant education in a flexible and convenient platform,” says the Reverend E. Abraham, director, Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur.

XLRI was among the pioneering institutions for online learning in India. It started the Virtual Interactive Learning (VIL) programme, offering management education to working executives, in 2002. Abraham says that initiation of good courses by credible institutes has helped online learning become a popular higher education alternative, overcoming the initial scepticism. “Today, this format provides a variety of programmes at costs much lower than traditional courses,” he says. More than 7,000 students have graduated from various XLRI-VIL programmes. Currently, the institute has 170 online study centres across the country, offering postgraduate courses in areas such as business management, human resource management, business analytics for management decisions and senior leadership.