Trends in EdTech Adoption Among Working Professionals in India

It won’t be surprising to say that India is now considered a global hub for the Ed-Tech sector, with more than 300 million users. Today, you will find many individuals spending their weekdays handling client calls and learning data analytics. On the other hand, there might be someone who balances his job by the day while pursuing an online MBA from a UGC-approved university. Similarly, there are thousands of working professionals who are turning to EdTech platforms and recognised online universities to upgrade their skills or secure promotions.

India is expected to have a workforce of over 600 million by 2030 and nearly half of them would need to upgrade their skills in the next five years with the changing market. In the midst of this, EdTech has emerged as the lifeline for continuous learning and has resulted in the birth of many EdTech companies in India. Further, the government’s National Education Policy (NEP) emphasised enhancing the quality of online education in the country, which impacted people’s perception of online courses.

This blog discusses the emerging trends in EdTech adoption among working professionals in India, challenges and benefits. This guide will help you to understand why it’s happening and what’s shaping the education system.

Related: Impact of EdTech on Rural Education in India: A Detailed Report on Status, Benefits, Challenges and Initiatives

Why is EdTech in India Gaining Popularity Among Working Professionals?

Let’s set the context before diving into the specifics. The clear growth of EdTech can be traced back to the lockdown period. According to a joint report by Nielsen and BARC, there was a 30% increase in screen time spent on educational platforms during the first wave. Over the years, the number of EdTech companies in India has increased. Here are a few reasons:

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  Widening skill gap: The changing business practices and adoption of modern tools require upgraded skills. Only a certain fraction of working professionals are able to upskill, widening the skill gap.
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  Affordability: Online courses, whether undergraduate, postgraduate, or a short-term certificate course, are 20% to 30% more affordable than regular programmes.
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  Employer push: Many multinational companies, such as TCS and Infosys, encourage their employees to benefit from platforms like upGrad, Coursera, edX and others.
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  Government efforts: The Government of India has launched various initiatives, such as SWAYAM and Skill India, which have normalised online education and helped uplift the quality of online courses.

Top Trends in EdTech Adoption among Working Professionals

Every working professional understands that there is a constant need to upskill and upgrade to remain relevant in the fiercely competitive market. Here are some trends which have been observed in India among working professionals.

1. Rise in upskilling and reskilling programmes: Working professionals are no longer content with one degree throughout their career. Since technology is continuously acquiring new technical and business skills have become essential. That is why many working professionals try to pursue short-term skill-based online courses without quitting jobs. This surge is mostly seen among mid-career professionals in 25 to 35 years age group.

2. Corporate-EdTech partnerships: Many Indian companies are partnering with EdTech platforms and universities to encourage their employees to hone their skills and knowledge. For working professionals, this means subsidised or free access to online courses related to their field.

3. Rise of micro-credentials and nano degrees: Gone are the days when you had to spend years to get a higher qualification. Today, there are many short and stackable credentials, for example, the job-ready certifications of Google, AWS, IBM, etc and specialisations based on Coursera courses.

4. AI-powered personalised learning: Earlier online courses used to miss personalised learning. With the blend of AI, EdTech platforms are using futuristic techniques to make it relatable to working professionals.

5. Access to global certifications: In India, a huge number of professionals prefer global certifications, but not all can invest so much time and money. EdTech platforms have collaborations with international institutions also, so, working professionals find it convenient to opt for global certifications.

6. Executive education through EdTech platforms: Many premier institutions in India, like IIMs, ISB and XLRI, leverage EdTech platforms to deliver various executive programmes for eligible working professionals. The Global MBA programme by Deakin University in collaboration with upGrad is one of an example.

Challenges in EdTech Adoption among Working Professionals

While EdTech is undoubtedly transforming how working professionals in India are returning to academics, it has also impacted the number of candidates focusing on continuous learning. There are several challenges that executives usually face. Let’s break them down here:

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  Managing time is not easy: One of the biggest challenges working professionals face is struggling to balance work responsibilities and give time to academics. A full-time job means 8 to 10 hours of daily work, followed by personal commitments. After such a hectic schedule, it becomes challenging to dedicate time to live classes or complete any course assignments.
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  Connectivity and digital divide: Although India has approximately 750 million internet users, the internet connectivity is not equal in all regions. As per a report by TRAI, over 30% of rural users face disruption in video streaming, making it difficult to attend live lectures. This creates a digital divide where professionals staying in metro cities can take full advantage.
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  Hard to stay motivated: In a traditional classroom setting, you get structured learning in fixed timings, direct interactions and peer competition. Whereas online learning needs a high degree of self-discipline and motivation to stay consistent. In this case, it is easier to lose interest or get distracted.
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  Content overload with quality concern: You will find thousands of courses on EdTech platforms, but not all are up to the mark. On the same topic, there are several courses available so confusion is normal. With this content overload, many professionals quit even before learning.
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  Lack of practical exposure: Another frequent complaint you may have heard is that there is no practical exposure. Although many EdTech companies in India and universities have virtual lab setups to offer as much hands-on experience as possible, it is less compared to what is available in traditional setups. However, this is not applicable to non-technical areas.

Summarising

EdTech adoption in India among working professionals has definitely increased; it is no longer a passing wave. It is considered the best survival strategy for your career in 2025. Depending upon your unique needs, you have a plethora of options from micro-credentials to full degree courses. If you are a working professional stuck between work and academic dreams for career growth, choosing an appropriate course from the best EdTech platform in India can be your launchpad.