According to extensive data collected by the European Commission, 33% of EU internet users said they had used online learning materials in the past three months. This is an increase over previous years and highlights how people worldwide are taking advantage of vast stores of knowledge hosted online.
Digitization and Digital Enablement
By now, a lot of nations have achieved widespread digitization. This is where information is converted or reformatted to digital formats so that it can be found online. This happened naturally in the private sector as business made its way online. Following suit, most national and even local governments now operate websites that can be used to access critical information or even perform tasks, like filing taxes or applying for certain services.
This widespread digitization is downstream from our use of search engines like Google. We use it to find everything online, with every industry, activity, and niche represented in some way. The best example of this is digitally native industries, like iGaming, where casino games are hosted over the internet alongside a wider information-sharing ecosystem. People can use the internet to find basic tutorials, like how to play slots, so they can better engage with the entertainment available to them. Another example is e-commerce – buyers can find online stores to buy products from, but they can also research products and read reviews from users to become more confident in their purchases.
As the internet became the place to research games, products, or any other random questions we may have, it makes sense that more official, curated learning resources would find an audience online. This led to the emergence and legitimization of online universities, most famously services like The Open University, while prestigious establishments like Harvard and Oxford started offering online courses. Companies like Udemy and Skillshare have also found success by offering learning resources for skills that typically don’t require an accredited university qualification.
Online Learning Stats in 2024
Participation in online learning materials seems to be picking up, according to data from European Union countries. In 2024, roughly a third of internet users had accessed online learning in the three months before surveying. This was up from 30% of people surveyed in 2023. As the internet continues to become more relevant to our everyday lives, even more people will access online learning materials in the future.
More interesting is the breakdown by specific EU nations, which shows how certain countries report as many as 60% of internet users engaged in online learning. Ireland led the survey at 61%, closely followed by the Netherlands at 59% and Finland at 53%. These Western European nations boast a higher internet penetration rate compared to the Eastern European countries at the bottom of the survey’s rankings, like Romania at 10%. If that relationship holds, then online learning participation should increase as more accessible infrastructure becomes available in these regions.
Other sources of global digital adoption data claim that internet users are now a ‘supermajority’ with 67.5% of the world’s population online. If just a third of most nations’ internet users engage in online learning, it means the space would dwarf traditional learning pathways. Real-world universities only have so much space, while a course posted online could reach millions of people.
Future courses will also benefit from advancements in the way we send and receive data. Consider advancements like new Wi-Fi standards or 5G, which improve internet speeds and enable faster data transfers online. This can enable more detailed learning resources in the future, including demonstration using VR or complex digital simulations, and allow for more personalized, specialized materials.
In the meantime, interested parties can track online learning participation thanks to studies conducted by the government and other, private institutions. As we head toward 2030 – a prominent digital transformation landmark for many nations – we can expect participation to increase even more.
