The Hindu Business Line : MBD Group in talks to promote e-learning

New Delhi, Jan. 25 Publishing major MBD Group is engaged in talks with Harvard Research Initiative to promote e-learning, especially in Government-run institutions. The Rs 250-crore group which launched MBD Alchemie, an online educational academy, said it is also looking at standardisation of content across the country.

“With a major thrust being given to promote education by the Government, there is a clear blueprint for us to grow. Harvard Research Initiative is involved in research and promoting e-learning in Government-run institutions in the country. We are in talks with them to use our content,” Ms Monica Malhotra Kandhari, Director, MBD Group, told Business Line.

The group has invested Rs 20 crore to create a graphic user interface and proprietary Learning Management System to act as the front-end and backend for delivery of its content, she said, adding that a slew of new investments will be added during the current year.

Globally, the market for online tutoring is estimated at $12 billion.

MBD Group’s publishing business includes books targeted at primary, middle and senior secondary school level, college level, reference books as well as medical, engineering and technical entrance books.

In the initial phase, MBD Alchemie has introduced courses for students of class 10th and 12th of Central Board of Secondary Education and for competitive examination preparation.

New courses on IIT-JEE, State common entrance tests are also in the pipeline and will be launched shortly. The courses are of varying duration, both short and long-term, ranging from three months to two years.

“We also offer a course on test and discussions where the students will be given tests and then they have the option of discussing online the problem with the subject matter expert,” Ms Khandhari added.

Besides online course content, the company had also introduced 128 titles on compact disc. The CD-based market for CBSE test series is estimated at Rs 142 crore, and MBD Alchemie is looking at tapping a sizeable part of this market.