As online degrees step up, AI has now become the backbone of learning: UNext CEO

By Ambrish Sinha

Over the past two decades of working at the intersection of tech and education, I have witnessed a steady but profound shift – learning has evolved from a one-time milestone to a lifelong journey.

According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), India’s gross enrolment ratio (GER) has risen from 10% in 2005 to 28.4% in 2021-22. While this marks significant progress, we are still far from the ambitious 50% target by 2035 set by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This transformation isn’t just welcome, it’s essential.

Online degrees ‘stepping up’

Traditional brick-and-mortar models alone cannot bridge this gap. A growing cohort of learners — working professionals, first-generation graduates, or whom I like to call ‘new to education’, and women re-entering the workforce – require access to flexible, high-quality education without uprooting their lives. This is where online degrees are not just stepping in, they’re stepping up.

At Online Manipal, we have seen this need firsthand and built for it. Our approach has gone beyond simply taking classrooms online. We have focused on making quality education inclusive, career-relevant, and skill-based to the realities of modern learners. Whether it is a graduate fresh out of college, a working mother in a tier-2 town, or a mid-career professional looking to pivot, our programmes are designed to meet learners where they are.

Online Education: Best practices

As online higher education scales, quality cannot be an afterthought. The approach is anchored in four core principles that ensure online degrees are not just accessible, but also effective and outcome-driven:

Personalised learning

In the brave new world of AI, education is set to be one of the first sectors to be revolutionised. We’re already witnessing one-on-one AI-based tutoring through tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other emerging platforms. At UNext, our focus has been on being part of this change – reimagining how students learn through intelligent, adaptive solutions. The use of AI also allows us to introduce personalised learning pathways, timely nudges, and more effective outcomes.

Academic and industry relevance

Curriculum must bridge theory and practice, integrating certifications, and skill-based learning, leading to real-world applications. Our collaboration with Coursera is one such step – bringing globally recognised content and faculty from top international universities directly to our learners.

Also read ‘We are reimagining MBA education’: IIM Bangalore dean

Learner-first design

Programmes must adapt to learners’ goals and schedules, not the other way around. Flexibility is the key.

Strong learner support

Mentorship, career services, and active peer communities help learners stay engaged and supported.

The work ahead

Building on the momentum, online degrees must continue to evolve. The government’s framework for online learning, as outlined in the NEP , is highly supportive but requires regular updates and alignment across all regulatory bodies to sustain and accelerate the momentum of online higher education.

India’s current imperative is to harness the benefits of its demographic dividend. This raises the urgent need to increase employment opportunities for the young workforce and improve women’s participation in the labour market. Skill-enhancing workforce development programmes and courses, in partnership with government bodies, are essential. According to the India Employment Report 2024, the unemployment rate among those with a college degree is close to 30%. This points to the need for online education that goes beyond access to deliver true readiness.

Lifelong Learning: The future

The World Economic Forum in 2025 released a Future of Jobs Report noting that over 39% of workers’ core skills are expected to change between 2025 and 2030. Skills like analytical thinking, tech literacy, data fluency and self- management are rising in importance, while traditional roles are being automated or redefined by
artificial intelligence.

For learners, this means one thing – continuous reinvention. Online programmes embedded with micro-credentials and stackable certifications are emerging as powerful tools for career mobility.

A learner enrolled in our MSc in Data Science programme can simultaneously complete a Power BI certification from Microsoft, apply it in real-world projects, and bring immediate ROI to their workplace. This blend of academic depth and industry agility is what modern education must deliver.

Also read Beyond Engineering: Why BTech students are rushing to enrol in short-term online courses

AI: Not a buzzword, but a backbone

AI has rapidly advanced in the past 18 months to become an integral part of teaching and learning. From predictive analytics that help identify disengaged students, to adaptive learning engines that customise content delivery based on learner behaviour, AI is making education more personal, precise, and proactive.

The best way to use AI for educators is to adopt it and enhance their productivity and effectiveness.

The Holy Grail: Student outcomes

Ultimately, the real measure of an online programme is what learners do with it. We have tracked key outcomes from our alumni and the data is telling.

Over 70% of learners report enhanced domain expertise and job readiness. 62% say their work performance has improved measurably. Perhaps most powerfully, 78% feel a renewed sense of purpose and personal accomplishment, while 61% are stepping up to leadership roles within their organisations.

This isn’t just about promotions or pay hikes. It’s about confidence, competence and career clarity — outcomes that redefine what it means to succeed.

Looking Ahead: Reimagining, not replacing

The future of education isn’t a debate between online and offline — it’s a call to reimagine learning as lifelong, learner- centric, and outcome-driven. Institutions that understand this shift and embrace hybrid learning, upskilling, learner support, and industry alignment will thrive.

For students, this future means more control, more choices, and more opportunities. For educators, it means evolving roles that focus on mentorship and facilitation. And for institutions, it’s a chance to reach new geographies, cater to new learner segments, and make a measurable impact.

At UNext and Online Manipal, we’re committed to building this future — one learner at a time. Online education isn’t a compromise, but an evolution of higher education.

Ambrish Sinha is the founding CEO of UNext Learning Pvt Ltd.

This piece first appeared in the 200th issue of the Careers360 magazine, published in August 2025