The role of hybrid learning: balancing accessibility and quality

Hybrid learning models are emerging as a fundamental tool for student engagement, improving accessibility, and better educational outcomes. The integration of in-person and online learning has the potential to address long-standing challenges in higher education, especially in countries like India, with a lag in quality education.

Our country is home to the world’s largest population in the below 24 age brackets. It thus offers both opportunities and challenges in its higher education sector. Despite being the third-largest higher education system globally, behind only China and the US, India’s educational sector is caught up by accessibility barriers, unaffordability, and an insufficient focus on industry-relevant skills. The education system is gradually transitioning, driven by innovations like hybrid learning, which blends traditional face-to-face education with the flexibility of online courses.

Hybrid learning outcomes

Hybrid learning’s strength lies in its ability to combine the best of both worlds—classroom-based instruction and the digital tools that are increasingly becoming a part of the modern education experience. This model offers students a personalized learning journey that suits their pace, preferences, and needs. For instance, the flexibility of online learning allows students to revisit lectures, participate in interactive discussions, and access resources that they may not have had otherwise, especially in remote areas. On the other hand, face-to-face interaction builds collaboration, practical experience, and the development of soft skills that are difficult to create in a purely virtual environment.

The move towards hybrid models can also help address inaccessibility to quality education. According to UNESCO’s 2021 report on India’s education system, the student-teacher ratio in senior secondary schools is disproportionately high, standing at 47:1, compared to the ideal of 26:1 for the general school system. Hybrid learning can significantly reduce the strain on teachers and help students access more personalized education, thereby improving the overall learning experience.

Overcoming the skills gap with blended learning

The hybrid learning model is particularly promising in solving the growing skills gap in India’s job market. For example, India’s IT sector faces a massive shortage of skilled professionals. A report by Skillsoft revealed a widening skills gap, with the country struggling to produce adequately trained professionals in fields like cybersecurity, machine learning, and cloud computing. The demand for these skills is growing exponentially, yet there is a lack of adequately trained graduates.

In this context, hybrid learning can be an affordable, scalable solution. By integrating online learning platforms with industry-specific curricula, universities can quickly update their courses to match the evolving demands of the job market. This would enable students to gain relevant, real-world skills without the delays associated with traditional education models.

Private institutions in India are already taking steps in this direction. As per the report by IBEF, private investments in education have surged over the past two decades, with a focus on international collaborations and on-demand online courses. These institutions are now partnering with platforms to offer up-to-date courses that bridge the skills gap. For example, the demand for specialized degrees in emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI, and IoT has led to more industry-oriented online programs, which offer flexibility and allow students to learn at their own pace while maintaining the rigor of conventional education.

Relevance to the Indian job market

Hybrid learning has the potential to address not only skills gaps but also the challenge of employability. According to a survey by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, only 60% of IIT graduates found placements in 2024. This statistic underscores a fundamental problem in the Indian education system: while there is an oversupply of graduates, many are not job-ready. A significant number of graduates from India’s engineering institutions fail to meet the skill requirements demanded by industries, even those with leading credentials like IITs.

Blended learning models that combine in-person education with online elements, such as real-world problem-solving exercises and project-based learning, can bridge this divide. The integration of online platforms into traditional curricula can provide students with hands-on experience and industry-relevant certifications. For instance, students pursuing engineering degrees can take online courses on AI, machine learning, and cloud computing, which are integral to the future of the job market.

By supplementing traditional academic programs with these targeted, self-paced online modules, students will not only gain theoretical knowledge but also practical experience. This approach could help address the gap where students learn fundamental skills in theory but lack the opportunity to apply them in real-world scenarios.

The potential of India’s EdTech revolution

India is emerging as a global leader in edtech, with the online education market expected to grow by $2.28 billion between 2021-2025, as per IBEF. The Indian edtech market is projected to reach $30 billion by 2031, with private players collaborating with international brands to offer industry-specific degrees and certifications. Platforms that offer specialized digital skills training are thriving, making it easier for students to acquire knowledge in fields that will drive future economic growth, such as AI, data science, and cybersecurity.

Through hybrid models, education providers can offer more tailored learning experiences. Collaboration with tech companies allows educational institutions to stay ahead of the curve, ensuring that their curriculum remains relevant to the rapidly evolving job market. Students enrolled in traditional degree programs can access digital modules that help them acquire specialized skills, thereby reducing the time it takes to become industry-ready.

In the coming years, hybrid learning will not only make education more accessible to a broader range of students but also better align education with the needs of the job market.

(The author is CEO at Scholars Merit Pvt Ltd)