IBISWorld Market Research
The rollout of the National Broadband Network will enable more people to access industry services.
Melbourne, Australia (PRWEB) June 24, 2014
The Online Education industry has grown at a rapid pace. Technological advancements and faster internet speeds have allowed the online model to become a more viable method of learning. With more individuals and businesses recognising the benefits of online education, the take-up of online learning has soared over the past five years. The appeal of higher education has further fuelled growth. A trend towards upskilling became particularly apparent during the global financial crisis. While Australia survived the economic downturn relatively unscathed, upskilling has established a permanent place in society. IBISWorld industry analyst Lauren Magner states “with more Australians working longer hours, the flexibility offered by online education has enabled more full-time workers to engage in further learning.” Besides demand-side factors, higher education and further education providers have recognised the growing need for flexibility and have increased the breadth of courses offered through online platforms. For these reasons, in the five years through 2013-14, the industry is projected to grow at an annualised 14.4%. During 2013-14, the industry is estimated to grow 9.3% to $5.9 billion.
After its initial growth spurt, industry revenue is projected to grow at a slower rate. While the demand for paid online courses will continue to grow, student enrolments will grow at a slower pace. According to Magner, “the market-driven demand system in higher education is expected to strip some growth from the industry, as more universities offer additional undergraduate places.” However, the arrival of the National Broadband Network will enable providers to reach more communities in regional areas. There are numerous opportunities for providers to tap into a receptive South-East Asian market that already has large exposure to Australian education. While the proliferation of free online courses has been a growing concern for many education providers, the industry still has time to expand its offerings to stave off this threat. For now, as world-class universities are reluctant to offer formal accreditation for their online courses, Australia's existing education providers can maintain their dominance over the fee-paying market.
The Online Education industry is characterised by a low level of market share concentration. Some larger players, such as Open Universities Australia (OUA), SEEK Learning, and Kaplan Professional, have invested in technology and have set themselves up as market leaders. Although these players have a low combined market share, they appear to be working quickly to expand their presence in the industry. While SEEK and OUA are effectively umbrella organisations, which bring a large variety of providers under one banner, SEEK has recently entered into a joint venture with Swinburne to establish Swinburne Online. SEEK appears to be leveraging its brand presence and its technological capabilities to further deliver online education.
For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Online Education report in Australia industry page.
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IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
The industry includes education institutions that deliver online education to students. To be considered as being online, over 80% of the course or unit content has to be delivered online. For example, students could be located off-campus for the duration of their enrolment and successfully complete a unit of study. Online education includes study at all levels of education.
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