All other things remaining constant, majority of the Indian students are preferring to join colleges that have digital strengths.

In a five-country survey conducted by IT firm Accenture, it is shown that students feel that digital capabilities such as bringing technology into classrooms, virtual coursework and online classes have become differentiators when it comes to choosing a college over the other.

As many as 1,500 students were surveyed (300 in each country) in Australia, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. The sample included students who are yet to join universities, the present students and who have just completed their courses.

“The majority (70 per cent) calling for greater use of digital tools for learning and content delivery. Our research revealed that as universities compete to attract students, digital capabilities are a major draw,” Ryan Oakes, who leads Accenture’s education practice, said here in a press release, announcing the findings of the survey.

The cost of attending a university was the number one reason, such university-bound secondary students across the five countries – 54 per cent overall – said, which is why they were considering alternatives for higher education.

“ The concern over cost was fairly consistent across the five countries, cited by 54 per cent in Australia, 48 per cent in India, 53 per cent in Singapore, 59 percent in the United Kingdom and 55 per cent in the United States,” the survey said.

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