Sukriti has been with ICRI for over three years now, prior to which she has worked with companies such as S&G Arts, Unique Shiksha, Dag Modern, and Palette Art Gallery.

The pandemic outbreak last year accelerated the pace of digital adoption. Owing to the COVID-19 induced social distancing norms, businesses embraced the work from home concept. This was also the time when the concept of remote and hybrid learning boomed significantly.

The Impact of the Pandemic on the Education Sector
Even in the pre-COVID era, the concept of hybrid learning backed by edtech platforms had started foraying into the education market at the global level. The pandemic acted as a catalyst specifically in India and led to a surge in its acceptance and adoption. Be it language apps, video tutorials, or online learning software & platforms, the newage learning process surged exponentially. The Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association reported this very trend in its research and stated that the Indian edtech startups witnessed a total investment of $2.22 billion in 2020 as compared to $553 billion in 2019.

Consequently, educators got an opportunity to extend high end educational experiences to the students without compromising on their studies. Leveraging the power of technology, edtech platforms, and hybrid learning, they are able to successfully blend in person teaching along with remote learning and offer premium hybrid learning experiences to the students.

Hybrid Learning: The New Fad
The concept of blended learning gained prominence ever since the coronavirus entered the picture. This teaching approach brings the best of both worlds of physical communication and online learning and helps in the holistic development of learners. It enables the students to indulge in self paced learning, wherein they can match pace with the progressive curriculum as per their convenience. They can study as well as work on realworld projects right from the comfort zone of their homes.It is these benefits of flexibility and effective learning that give hybrid process an edge over the brick & mortar and remote learning processes.

Blended Learning: A Boon for Learners
Hybrid learning has helped bridge the physical digital divide in the educational sector and has emerged to be a boon for all categories of learners. Be it school and college students who could continue their studies or working professionals who got a chance to undertake courses to upskill themselves; the concept was a blessing in disguise in the truest sense. It has carved the path for a collaborative tech savvy learning environment that ensured that the learning experience wasn't compromised.

Blended learning boosts the self confidence and morale of the students.It preps up the learners for real world situations and helps them become inde pendent and self disciplined. They are able to gather knowledge, industry relevant skills, and qualities that would polish them to deal with real world situations.

With this new fad, learners get an opportunity to become

future ready. They are able to gather knowledge with a holistic approach, i.e. they have the access to the right balance of theoretical knowledge and practical exposure. It shapes them up so that they have access to better career prospects in the future.

The hybrid way of learning surpasses all geographical restrictions and enables students to learn about inclusivity and cohesive living

The hybrid way of learning surpasses all geographi cal restrictions and enables students to learn about inclusivity and cohesive living. Education has become accessible, engaging, and flexible owing to this blended concept. This learning methodology harnesses the power of technology and the new age content format to make learning effective.

What is noteworthy is one of the most undermined benefits of hybrid learning, i.e. the decrease in absenteeism of learners. Learners who are unwell or occupied in some emergencies won't have to miss their classes. They have the opportunity to attend their lectures from their homes without worrying about missing lectures or lacking behind in their studies.

The Future of Hybrid Learning
Considering its growing popularity, the future of blended learning indeed seems promising. As per Market and Research's report, the global corporate blended learning market is projected to grow by $27.9 billion at a CAGR of 13 percent by 2025. Another report by this leading market research firm also states that the global online education market will reach $350 billion by 2025. These statistics paint the progressive future of the hybrid learning market and depict that physical coupled with online teaching will indeed be an important element of the education market in the times to come.

Summing-up!
Blended learning has transformed education exponen tially and is making it all the more engaging, immersive, and flexible. What was once an option has now emerged to be the dire need of the hour! The digital revolution has enabled the edtech players to adopt solutions and customize the content so as to make learning effective and engaging in the hybrid concept. It has also upscaled the educational experience as well as examination and evaluation processes.

The edtech platforms are leaving no stone unturned to offer high end educational experiences to the learners, be it those from educational institutions or the job goers looking forward to upskilling and reskilling themselves via the power of hybrid learning. ICRI Online Learning is one such medtech provider that is offering new age courses with a focus on futuristic industries and helps in creating Job ready professionals.

Considering that the pandemic is here to stay, blended learning will emerge to be the future of the educational sector. Owing to its plethora of benefits, it possesses an edge over other learning models and will soon be the 'new normal' of the education sector in the times to come!