Online learning combined with games to grow by 38% in 2-4 yrs

Mumbai (PTI): The combination training method, involving online learning and games, is gaining momentum and is expected to grow by up to 38 per cent in the next 2-4 years with corporates trying to enhance skills of their workforce, according to industry experts. "Learning in the context of work, though essential, isn't always enjoyable and engaging, therefore, new models of training, more relevant to the workforce of today and tomorrow are being explored and games-based learning is one such model," Schoolguru Eduserve CEO and founder Shantanu Rooj told PTI here.

"The combination method of skilling, a recent phenomenon in corporates, is used across sectors providing play-like simulation with the additional learning or improving functional proficiency and social interaction. I expect 38 per cent growth in the segment to about Rs 3,000 crore in the next two years," he added. As newer generations enter the workforce, technology adoption into learning is no longer just a need, but also a demand and corporates are advancing rapidly towards blended learning modules, he added.

Michael Page India Regional Talent Development Facilitator Dhruv Srivastava opined that gaming and simulations have been utilised across organisations to drive learning impact, however, as newer generations enter the workforce, technology adoption into learning is no longer just a need, but also a demand. "Corporates are advancing rapidly towards blended learning modules," he said. Companies have been combining technology as well as games to impart skill in almost every sector for an improved engagement and performance, however, it is predominantly present in manufacturing companies, banking, pharmaceutical organisations and even the retail sector, he added.

Echoing a similar view, Mercer|Mettl CEO Siddhartha Gupta said most of the employees are already too tired before they take any traditional online training course. Games and technology provide the option to make training interesting, fun and can be measured, he added. "I see a 30 per cent increase in the combination method for training in the next 3-4 years as industry-specific skills change quickly. So every industry is in expanding their budgets for training differently," he said adding that BFSI, IT/IteS, internet and electronic, services and HR and consulting firms will gain from such a development.

Udacity India managing director Ishan Gupta opined that traditional training requires a lot of investment in the form of time, money and efforts from the corporate. "Moreover, in a traditional training set up updating the course content regularly is a major challenge. Hence, the demand for online training is picking up fast. The benefit of having an online and gamified training platform is that it can help corporates to manage their ever-changing skill requirements quickly," he added.