Education seems to be turning out a favourite among graduates of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). After the likes of Educomp and CEON Solutions, which were founded by IIM alumni, couple of IIM-A graduates are planning to offer real interactive e-learning tools for colleges using multimedia simulations and animations, through their company Edukite Learning.
The company's founders, Vineet Ladia and Aravind Venkatraman, who had so far been offering real interactive e-learning tools to South African schools, are launching the product in India for the first time.
"Unlike existing players in the e-learning segment, we have made our software more interactive by leveraging the digital medium. Using animations, simulations, virtual experiments and educational games, we enable students and teachers to convert mere multimedia simulations into real class-room activity they can experience the content they are studying and get a hands-on understanding of the concepts. While the product is being launched for schools for the first time in India, we are developing a similar product for campuses," says Vineet Ladia, director, Edukite Learning.
While Ladia rules out such a product for Bschools, he says that the tool is being developed for subjects mostly in the science stream. Edukite also plans to include television based education programmes using animation technology for reaching a wider audience of teachers and students.
Ladia feels the current products available for e-learning tools are more of video medium and hardly carry any interactivity for students and teachers alike. "Our aim is to enhance the students’ understanding of advanced concepts, and also bolster their knowledge of fundamental principles. There are very few companies across the globe who actually have both design and programming talent in-house which enables them to build hands-on activities and experiments. And there is no better way to learn than to do it yourself and then figure out things," he further adds.
Having graduated in 2006 from IIM-A, Ladia and Venkatraman initially marketed the products for schools in South Africa. "Edukite has already built a strong base in South Africa, with projects in six of the nine provinces. We are now looking at other developing markets including India and are launching the products for schools here soon," says Ladia. Expecting to grow by 100 per cent every year, the company aims to peg a turnover of Rs 5 crore for the financial year 2009-10.
Edukite Learning is in talks with prospective partners in Egypt, Turkey and Russia for various education related projects. The company currently has a very strong base in South Africa and is working on numerous government projects.