'Digital capabilities at Universities key to draw students'

Indian students value digital capabilities at universities more than their peers in Australia, Singapore, the UK and the US, says a report.
According to a five-country survey by Accenture, 85 per cent of college-bound students said that digital capabilities, such as integration of technology into classrooms, virtual coursework and online classes are a top determinant in choosing which university to attend.
In India, as high as 98 per cent of students cited digital capabilities as an important determinant to University selection.
"Our research revealed that as universities compete to attract students, digital capabilities are a major draw," said Ryan Oakes, who leads Accenture's education practice, adding that "universities need to rise to the challenge of addressing demands for digital services among current and prospective students".

The survey further said that the cost of attending a university was the number one reason such university-bound students considered while deciding on an alternative.
The concern over cost was fairly consistent across the five countries, cited by 54 per cent in Australia, 48 per cent in India, 53 per cent in Singapore, 59 per cent in the United Kingdom and 55 per cent in the United States.

With regard to university experience, Indian students were most satisfied, with 92 per cent saying their experience was excellent or good, followed by students in the US, the UK, Australia and Singapore, the survey said.

While, majority of all respondents identified obtaining skills and knowledge for success in the job market as the main goal of a university education, three out of four respondents also said personal benefits, such as exposure to new people and new ways of thinking, were also very important.
Accenture surveyed 1,500 students (300 per country, including university-bound secondary students, current university students, and recent graduates) in the five nations during mid-2014.