Aptech Seeks Global Leadership For Educational Portal

Aptech Ltd, which recently launched its educational portal www.aptechonlinevarsity.com, has drawn up plans to become the world's largest educational portal by 2003. The portal is being developed to cater to a worldwide audience.

Speaking to Business Standard, Aptech's executive director Pramod Khera said: "In order to accomplish this target we expect to add 5 lakh students every year, till 2003".

Khera said the firm was scouting for partners for developing non-IT content for the portal. The portal which now offers material on IT, management, personality development and communication skills will be expanded to cover diverse topics of general interest and education.

While not divulging the exact quantum of returns expected from this portal, Khera said it would add considerably to both the company's topline and bottomline.

He said that the portal would cater to people who do not have time or access to educational institutions and require fast-paced knowledge.

The choice of the pace lies with the candidate. "The candidate can complete the course within a certain time frame", said Khera.

"We have worked on the portal for over six months and we hope to get over 2 million page views per month by the end of this year, on this portal. Within the first week of its launch, the portal has already got 1 lakh page views. Worldwide, the online learning market is expected to exceed $10 billion", said Khera.