What Can We Do To Make India A Global Content Creation Hub?

What Can We Do To Make India A Global Content Creation Hub?

Introduction and Scope of Creator’s Economy:

We are living in the era of content creation, known as content driven economy, which has skills development, new formats and types of content creation, training and dissemination of the content as the main drivers of economy. The growth of content marketing is unprecedented. According to MarketingCharts.com the Y-o-Y growth of content marketing is above 14% and absolute numbers are in excess of 32 billion USD worldwide. 

According to a news article from LiveMint, India is leading the digital content creation wave with 1 million creators in the country. Estimated to have at least 100,000 subscribers or followers in three years, growing at 37% at an annualized level.” So, this will be apt to call this phenomenon that we have already entered a content creators’ economy. The use of content marketing has increased in scope globally and according to research conducted by CMI, companies of all sizes have started using the content marketing, be it small, mid-sized or large.  

According to Research and Markets latest Report – “The content marketing is poised to grow by $584.02 bn during 2023-2027, accelerating at a CAGR of 16.37% during the forecast period.” There has been tremendous growth in terms of content creators, type of content and overall skills ecosystem. 

Let’s understand what is content and who is content creator and what are the advantages of content in business promotion, marketing and overall economy. According to Adobe express a content creator is someone who creates entertaining or educational content in any channel or medium.


These are some of the advantages of content creation for our economy.

  • Employment generation amongst youth and even people of any age group
  • Self-reliance and standing on their own feet. 
  • Financial support to orphans, school / college dropouts, single mothers and divorced. 
  • Improvement in the GDP of the country
  • Less pressure on state and national governments on the job creation 
  • Opportunity to grow revenues from multiple platforms, languages and countries. 

Content creation can be done in multiple languages. Content creators can create different content types and the same can be disseminated via multiple different platforms including social media. In the broader aspect the content creation and content creators are perceived as the majority in the new digital media platforms.

These are some of the ideas for making India as the global content creation hub:

  • We need to start at an early age and include content creation in early school and childhood class curriculum. We may need to learn from global examples and need to include this aspect into our primary education and private schools’ curriculum.
  • Involve all stakeholders for facilitating the creation of infrastructure and studios for content creation as the content creation involves usage of technology tools, software and hardware which tend to be costly at times and not everyone aspiring to be the content creators can afford the same. There is a need to create public-private infra, may be in the public or private libraries or in the cyber cafe near you. We may also think of utilizing the Common service centers (CSC) model for the same.
  • Incentivize and make export of content and skills training services even more rewarding the content creators start earning a decent amount of money after they reach a particular level in terms of subscribers, content views and brands mentions. Before they reach that level there are no incentives for them. Could we look at starting a scholarship or incentivizing the efforts of early content creators, so that many more people are motivated to move towards that path.
  • Involve private sector for content creators’ skill development training via their CSR budgets. Annual CSR funds spent by profitable companies in India constitutes an amount in excess of INR 25,715 crores in the year 2020-2021. The government generally does not provide any directions on the sectoral spending, and which majorly constitutes spends in healthcare, education and rural development. However, there can be guidelines to increase their spends for the enablement of the content creators from this spend.
  • Give additional grants and taxation support to startups working in the area of enablement of content creators. There is a lot of scope for growth of innovations in the creator’s ecosystem. We can enable incubators and state startup funds to have special focus on the startups working in this area by way of funding support to build commonly used infrastructure, tools, platforms and innovation.
  • Existing national and state bodies involved in skills development can have a new department, if not there already. Identification of emerging skills like content creation, providing the free training, enablement of the community and finding the avenues for connecting all the existing old-age skills via new content creation economy has to be done. India has traditionally been known for imparting 64 skills as per our old scriptures and there is a saying that lord Krishna learnt all the 64 skills in just 60 days. On the face of it, this seems impossible, but can technology help in achieving the same in the current era where Metaverse is the new face of collaboration.
  • Convert ITIs to be the skills development hubs across India and make it mandatory for each and every citizen to learn skills of their choice. Could we include content creation as a mandatory subject in each and every program which ITIs offer. This will help empower lakhs of students who may want to also become content creators.
  • Engage government and private universities and start offering short term certificate courses in various skills via regular or online methods. Could UGC or AICTE mandate a Free certificate course on how to become a content creator by all the Universities / Deemed to be universities. This will help in promoting this skill amongst youngsters.
  • Make content creation related procurement of equipment, hardware, accessories and software tax and import duties free. This step would help in increasing the sales and bringing the cost down of this technology enabled products. Government shall also promote setting up manufacturing at scale for domestic companies within India.
  • Do a nationwide campaign for the role and importance of content creators and creators’ economy. Niti Aayog can be spearheading this initiative and campaign. There can be a series of content creators’ stories who have made big and also for those who are yet to make it big. The nationwide campaign can talk about their struggle and success stories. Companies and platforms like YouTube, Instagram can be co-sponsors of these campaigns. We can use mass media and digital media for these campaigns.
  • Create a government funded community and platform on the lines of ONDC, accessible via web and mobile app for listing all influencers, micro influencers, mini influencers, content craters, certified creators and even aspiring to be big and give them mandatory content creators ID linked to Aadhar number  This will help in promoting the transparent income and taxation for digital creators which is a big challenge question as of now for tax enforcement authorities. Maybe to bring more transparency, can we make their earning tax free for a few years or till reaching a particular higher slab.

 

 

 

How we can make Upskilling mandatory of every Working Women In India?

How we can make Upskilling mandatory of every Working Women In India?

Introduction

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, upskilling has become crucial for career growth and professional success. It is particularly important for women in the workforce, who often face unique challenges and barriers. By making upskilling mandatory for every working woman, we can empower them to adapt to changing demands, bridge the gender gap, and create a more inclusive and prosperous society. In this article, we will explore the benefits of upskilling, address the challenges women encounter, and discuss strategies to make upskilling a mandatory practice.

The Importance of Upskilling

Upskilling is not just a personal endeavor; it has broader implications for both individuals and society as a whole. Here are some compelling statistics that highlight the significance of upskilling for working women:

  1. Economic Empowerment:
    • According to the World Economic Forum, closing the gender gap in economic participation and opportunity could add $28 trillion to the global GDP by 2025.
    • Research by McKinsey & Company suggests that advancing gender equality in the workplace could add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025.
  1. Career Advancement:
    • A study conducted by LinkedIn found that women are 25% less likely than men to apply for a job if they don’t meet all the qualifications. Upskilling can help women gain the confidence and skills necessary to pursue higher-level positions.
    • The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that women’s labor force participation rates increase with higher levels of education.
  1. Technological Advancements

Automation and artificial intelligence are transforming industries. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, the time spent on current tasks at work by humans and machines will be equal. Upskilling equips women with the skills needed to navigate these changes and thrive in a technology-driven world.

Challenges Faced by Working Women

While upskilling offers numerous benefits, women encounter specific challenges that need to be addressed to ensure equal access to professional development opportunities:

  1. Time Constraints:
    • A survey conducted by LinkedIn found that 42% of women cited lack of time as a significant barrier to upskilling.
    • According to a report by Deloitte, women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid work and caregiving responsibilities, making it challenging to allocate time for upskilling.
  1. Financial Constraints:
    • The cost of upskilling programs and courses can be a significant barrier for many women, particularly those in lower-income brackets.
    • A study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that women are more likely to face student debt, making it harder for them to invest in further education and upskilling.
  1. Gender Bias and Discrimination:
    • Women often face biases and discrimination in the workplace, limiting their access to training and development opportunities.
    • The Harvard Business Review reports that women receive less access to mentorship, sponsorship, and challenging assignments, which are essential for professional growth.

Strategies to Make Upskilling Mandatory

To overcome the challenges faced by working women and promote a culture of mandatory upskilling, several strategies can be implemented:

  1. Government Initiatives:
    • Governments can introduce policies that mandate employers to provide upskilling opportunities for their female employees.
    • Governments can also partner with private organizations and educational institutions to create affordable and accessible upskilling programs for women.
  1. Workplace Policies:
    • Companies can implement mandatory upskilling programs and allocate resources specifically for women, ensuring equal access to professional development opportunities.
    • Employers can create a supportive environment that encourages women to take time for upskilling without the fear of repercussions or career stagnation.
  1. Collaboration with Educational Institutions:
    • Collaboration between organizations and educational institutions can offer working women flexible and accessible upskilling programs tailored to their needs.
    • Online platforms and distance learning options can provide convenient opportunities for women to upskill while balancing work and personal responsibilities.
  1. Financial Support:
    • Governments, organizations, and employers can offer scholarships, grants, or subsidies to support working women in accessing affordable upskilling programs.
    • Financial incentives such as tax credits or employer-funded upskilling accounts can alleviate the financial burden on women seeking to upskill.
  1. Awareness Campaigns:
    • Educating women about the importance of upskilling and the available resources can break down barriers and encourage participation.
    • Mentorship programs and networking events can connect women with successful professionals who have benefited from upskilling, providing inspiration and guidance.

Conclusion

Making upskilling mandatory for every working woman is a powerful step toward empowering women in the workforce, narrowing the gender gap, and fostering a thriving economy. By addressing the challenges faced by women and implementing strategies that promote equal access to upskilling opportunities, we can ensure that every working woman has the tools and knowledge to adapt, excel, and shape her own career path. Let us strive for a future where upskilling becomes an integral part of every working woman’s journey toward success, driving economic growth and societal progress.

What Are The Top Future Trends Of Online Education In 2023?

What Are The Top Future Trends Of Online Education In 2023?

Introduction And Advancements

The world of learning is changing, post COVID, at a much faster pace as it had changed in the last one decade. The EdTechs are mushrooming and we have witnessed a series of new content formats and delivery mechanisms via Online Education. We have also seen the unprecedented growth of new age teachers and educational content creators helping to supplement the reading materials of students. Education has democratized and is creating a far reaching impact on the mind of learners. Preference for video content has introduced micro-learning and personalized learning. You already know that more than 69% of the world’s population (>5 Billions) are connected to the internet and the maximum consumption is in the form of searching for information and watching videos.

The convenience to learn is now being offered in many aspects, much beyond, place and time this is going to be an era on blended or hybrid learning and even to that aspect that there are tech giants working to create holographic and 3D view / avatar of your famous trainer or the subject matter expert, who can be seamlessly and simultaneously present in multiple c;assrooms, across many top cities of the world at the same time. Shocking or this is the way the larbing will be delivered in the time to come. Maybe in the future you are being mentored by a super intelligent bot for various skills which exists only visually and is being programmed on regular intervals based on machine learning algorithms.

The money and promotion alone now can not retain the talented employees as we are witnessing the entry of more people from new Gen-Z unto the active workforce. The rules of motivation and engagement of employees have totally changed as well. Organizations who are keen on re-skilling, up-skilling, adopting new and emerging technologies and redeploying the manpower to different roles after regular intervals will be able to retain the employees. 

Your professor may send you alerts via mobile notifications or help you answer any query, monitor your progress based on time you are spending on LMS via learning data analytics. You may join an open debate via Twitter Spaces or attend a virtual workshop by just wearing your VR Headset. The world of online education is far more all-encompassing as compared to Traditional ways of teaching. Are you soon going to give up traditional ways of learning? Let’s explore this question by way of this article.

Key Trends to watch out for

  • Only traditional mode of education will remain only in the underdeveloped societies and countries. The education is going to be On-demand, Online, Anywhere, On any device and Anytime in the future. The students may not be required to visit the campus or having a large campus may not be a differentiating factor in the future. So this is going to be a campus-less completely online university in the future, accessible via any device. 

    However this phenomenon may exist in few developed or emerging economies. The less developed countries might still continue to have the same format of education.

  • Online learning will become Virtual-blended Learning. There may be a right blend of learning via classroom (Occasionally), Virtual, Online, Conversation, Social innovation platform, Portals, Individualized, Real-time Learning, Broadcast etc. The future teachers may be virtually present in multiple classrooms.
     
  • Microlearning will be on the rise. According to fmi market research report, “The global microlearning market is poised to increase at a steady CAGR of 11.2%, reaching US$ 6.3 Billion by 2032 from US$ 1.9 Billion in 2021”. The reasons for students and teachers to go back to the campus was digital fatigue, an inherent disadvantage of online learning. Micro learning refers to breaking down the complex topics into smaller pieces of learning content, which the user can refer to multiple times without facing digital fatigue. 
  • Videos will be interactive and much more annotatable and once changes are accepted, will be re-programmed in real time. The video format is the most preferred choice in online learning. The videos are normally one way communication, but in future the videos are going to be much more interactive, reconfigurable and reprogrammable. In the future the videos will receive the feedback and change in real time based on feedback provided to them.we have already seen the emergence of live videos and live interactive ecommerce videos. 
  • We will be able to buy humanoid robots / coaches from different fields which will interact with us and solve our current challenges. The world has already seen Sophia and Erica from the leading robotics manufacturers. Their capabilities may be enhanced in future and they may even become the teaching robots as well, specializing in multiple, programmable topics and you can converse with them for hours and get your answers. The only thing they require is the addition of the microchip for a new topic. We have already seen the example of Shalu Robot in India. She can speak 47 languages and use powerpoint presentations to teach in the classroom. 
  • Professors will create their 3D avatars and 3D animation of Objects which will be projected virtually in the class-room, multiple locations simultaneously Microsoft HoloLens is working in this direction and is able to create virtual and mixed reality based learning environment in which the trainers can teach complex topics e.g. dissection of body parts for medical students in a very easy and visually-interactive way. 
  • Online Learning will go way beyond STEAM – Science, Technology, Arts and management Right now the scope of the Online degrees, diploma and certificate is restricted to very specific and popular programs. In future the scope and application of the online programs will go beyond popular categories and cover different streams and never thought before topics and subjects. Since the cost of conversion of content to digital/online format is costly and time consuming as of now, but in future with the help of Generative AI, digital content creation will be economically produced. 
  • There will be fully digital, accredited and future universities existing only on mobile as smartphone applications. The future may see the universities and educational institutions which are fully digital in nature and even without campus. Your smartphone or any other smart device will be your university. The learner and the trainer will face no limitation of geography, distance and languages. 
  • The wave of new online learning will have an equal impact on corporate and executive education, beyond just higher education students. Career advancement is the biggest motivation and advantage and at the same time taking time off from your office is a bog challenge for executives. That is where the online education, delivered by your premium institution, is invariably charging a large sum of money as fee for the program as well. The online learning will be gamified and AI driven with personalized learning alerts and data analytics. Personalized and system driven-feedback will help improve learners capability. 
  • The available skills which can be acquired online and the count of programs will increase exponentially in the future. The percentage of online program enrollments will increase and take over the number of regular admissions in a few years. This will make education more accessible and affordable as the cost of Online Education is generally much lesser than the regular one. In the future even MOOCs will become the gateway of online education. Universities, Eminent professors and technology brands will all come together on these platforms. The future of online education will also see the growth of the LMS tools and its advancement. 
  • Maybe we may see learning enhancement semiconductor chips being marketed by companies working in neuro sciences, EdTech startups, companies like Nvidia / Intel in the future. Humans may be able to apply these microchips to their brain and enhance their capabilities and learn new skills instantaneously. This trend is going to be seen in the next decade and there are a number of startups working in this area, including one from Elon Musk. Do you think that this is unethical or a right step in the progress of human beings when we will be behaving like machines. 
  • Optical lenses and anywhere, anytime, anyscreen, anysize projection technologies will aid in the growth of the “virtual-Blended Learning”. Let me call this phenomenon VbL.The projections technologies on any surface will help aid in online learning. This I believe, is going to be an era of fun and adventure based education, which is all immersive in the environment all-around you. I am a firm believer in the power of online learning and I always stay positive with the developments happening in this space.

Conclusion

From microchips to robots, virtual blended learning to 3D projection technologies the future of Online learning is very exciting and we as humans stand to gain and get super exciting and immersive experiences. Online Learning will grow at a pace much faster as compared to the growth of digital media which has surpassed other media types. 5G and increased internet bandwidth will help increase this pace further. What according to you is going to be the future direction of Online Learning. Please share your point of view. Also feel free to express and share your experiences in this space.