According to the Oxford Learning College, 21% of British people use some form of online learning from just 4% in 2007. Prior to 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic, online learning was much less prevalent in studies.
UK Education Technology Sector Valued at £3.2 Billion.
Oxford Learning College also reveal that “as of 2021, the UK Educational Technology sector is valued at an estimated £3.2billion, having grown 72% in 2020”. This is due to the online learning opportunities available for school children, university courses and adult classes resulting in huge growth in the online education market.
Sharp Increase of Users due to Covid 19
The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic was a major cause of the increase in online education. Schools, colleges and universities were forced to close and the students had to learn online at home using Zoom for all their classes. Students have since been able to access essential learning materials online for all their educational needs.
Increase in Learners in Online Education
The Oxford Learning College states that “online learning is the fastest-growing market in the education industry with a 900% growth rate globally since the year 2000”. In 2020, it became one of the most accessible and convenient services that has further increased its use in 2024.
However, as schools reopened in 2021, online learning for children aged 5 to 18 decreased as school days went back to normal.
Online education post Covid-19 Still Increases
The occurrence of Covid-19 sped up the inclusion of online learning for educational studies and now many students prefer learning online. Online learning is highly flexible for students as they can set their own schedule and there are reduced distractions when learning at home.
Online learning has seen an increase at university level and for business training courses.
In 2024 the amount of users of online education is 11.7 million (17.5%) and this is expected to continue rising with as many as 15.7 million users (23.5%) by 2029.
Higher Rate of Young People using Online Learning
However, Acuity Training found that the age of learners in online education has a significant impact on the online learning stats. For example, the young people who were at school age during the Covid-19 pandemic are much more likely to have received online learning than people in the 55+ age range.
Increase in Businesses Using Online Training
Businesses now offer online training courses for all of their employees as it offers convenience and reduces travel expenses. These training courses can include practical training such as health and safety training along with business courses in finance, marketing and leadership.
99% of Organisations provide E-learning for Employees
There has been a vast increase in the use of online training with Growth Engineering stating that 99% of organisations now provide employees with e-learning compared to only 76% in 2019.
What Percentage of People Have used Online Training?
Acuity Training discovered that almost half (44.68%) of people in the UK have attended an online training course for work which is almost the same amount for those who attended an in-person training course (50.92%).
Online training courses have become more popular in the workplace due to accessibility, especially for remote workers, and the cost effectiveness. It allows employees to learn at their own pace and it aligns with the preferences of employees, especially those of the younger generation.
Disadvantages to Learning Online
However, there are some disadvantages to online learning for businesses as there is less communication which may affect motivation. Management also doesn’t have full control of the learning process which can affect the training.
For students, learning online can also affect motivation. It may also impact their social growth as there is less interaction with other people, both students of the same age and with teachers.
Increase in Online Degrees Undertaken
For many students at university level, studying degrees online has increased every year. This is due to the increased flexibility of location and the accessibility of receiving world class teaching anywhere in the world.
Increase in Universities offering Online Learning
The University of Birmingham state “the number of universities offering online degrees continues to rise with approximately 76% of institutions offering them in 2017, compared to 70% in 2012.”
This has lead to a further increase of international students choosing to study at a UK university. “Since 2011 the numbers of American students studying online degrees at UK universities has increased by 26%, Canadians risen by 41% and Australian and South Africans a staggering 125% and 135% increase respectively.”
Online Degrees Increase Flexibility
Online degree universities offer an increasing number of available courses to study from the comfort of students’ own homes. This is much more suitable for students with part time jobs or adults with families to care for as they are able to organise their commitments around the online classes.
Online Education Cost Changes
In the UK, university tuition fees have been set at £9250 per year since 2017. Online education is more accessible as it costs a lot less, requires less travel and there are no expenses on student accommodation.
Cheaper Average Costs than Traditional Learning
The cost of online education varies with the popularity of the university and the types of courses they offer. The cost can vary from £2500 up to £11,000 per year but this is still considered cheaper than an in person course as there are no accommodation and travel fees on top. International students may also need to pay an extra international fee.
Worldwide Online Learning Statistics
Oxford Learning College states that there are over 100 million students worldwide enrolled in online courses in a wide range of subjects.
Statista reveals that “revenue in the Online Education market worldwide is projected to reach £145.60bn in 2024 with an annual growth rate of 6.32%.”
Statista also states that “the amount of users worldwide of online education is set to increase to 1,121.0m users by 2029.”
Overall, online education may have seen a sharp increase in 2020 due to Covid-19, but the technology advancements were welcomed and figures indicate it will only continue to rise worldwide.
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