'e-learning is not just for IT people'

IN CONVERSATION

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What led you to set up 24x7 Learning?

e-learning is the need of the hour, because of the gap between the demand for and supply of people with the right skills. It's not meant only for people with an IT or computer background. It can be used to upgrade the skills of any and everyone in any profession.

What kind of learning solutions do you offer?

We enable organisations to upgrade their workforce to compete in global markets and be globally successful. We ensure that our learning solutions are flexible and can be ramped up as organisations grow; and managed services for organisations wanting to outsource their complete training initiatives.

We also help assess learners and their competencies, and identify skill gaps and processes that would lead to skill gain. We work in verticals such as life sciences, IT, ITeS, retail, FMCG, BFSI, academia and government.

What are the skill gaps that organisations suffer from and the resulting business problems?

Skill gaps occur due to the mismatch between what is required by a company and what is produced by the formal education system.

They are basically domain skills and behavioural skills which students lack at the entry level of the corporate world. This has an effect on organisational competency, knowledge and productivity.

How do you enhance employability of students?

The education system fails to train students in the right directions"" the direction in which employers expect their employees to be trained in. SkillBridge caters to students in their final year in Tier I and Tier II colleges by giving them the relevant domain and behavioural skills training that enhance their employability.

Where do you find the maximum skill gaps?

Skill gaps are present in all sectors and the pain is felt by all sectors. Today we get enquiries from retail, life sciences, IT and ITeS sectors. The McKinsey study has highlighted the gaps in the IT industry. The current boom in the retail segment has brought to light the yawning gap in skill-sets.

The same story is true of aviation, BFSI and life sciences too. Our clientele spans all verticals"" Aditya Birla Group, Birla Institute Of Technology & Science, Bharti Airtel, Xansa, Caritor, IMT Ghaziabad and Hindustan Lever, for example.

What is India's e-learning market size?

According to IDC, the revenue earned worldwide from e-learning was $6 billion in 2003. That's expected to rise to $21 billion by 2008. Our research puts e-learning in India at over $200 million, most of it in-house development.

As the market matures, outsourcing of e-learning will also gain ground. As industries across verticals are adopting e-learning in a big way, the market is expected to grow to $1billion in three years.

Which educational institutes are you partnering for distance learning programmes?

Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad; Osmania University, Hyderabad; and Birla Institute of Technology and Science, among others.