• E-learning isn’t some new fad. In fact, it has been around since the 1980s, when the Open University in the UK began using an internet-based conferencing system as a learning tool. Since 2000, an increasing number of schools and universities have been distributing learning and course material over the internet.
• In 2011, it was estimated that €26bn were spent on e-learning worldwide. Nowadays, the e-learning industry is worth over €40bn and is expected to double by 2015.
• It is estimated that around the world, half of all classes will be e-learning-based by 2019.
• A study conducted by the Open University has found that e-learning consumes 90 per cent less energy than traditional courses. The amount of CO2 emissions per student is also reduced by up to 85 per cent.
• Almost half of global Fortune 500 companies use some form of e-learning to instruct employees.
• According to a report published by IBM, businesses that use e-learning tools have the potential to boost productivity by up to 50 per cent.
• Malaysia and Vietnam are the world’s most rapidly growing e-learning markets. In total, the Asian e-learning market has an estimated five-year annual growth rate of 17.3 per cent. In comparison, the e-learning growth rate in Europe is 8.2 per cent, while in Africa it stands at 15.4 per cent.
• A study conducted by Bersin & Associates shows that businesses that have a strong e-learning culture did better in their market than those who do not.
• E-learning also has the potential to increase information retention. According to the Research Institute of America, e-learning has the power to increase information retention rates by up to 60 per cent.