Distance learning and online courses have become significantly more popular in recent years. According to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, a little over half of U.S. students have taken any distance education course(s) for the 2022-23 academic year.
The European Commission also states on their eurostat website that participation in online education increased in almost all EU countries in 2023 compared to 2022. As such, 30% of EU internet users aged 16 to 74 reported that they had done an online course or used online learning material in the three months prior to the survey. So distance learning is becoming more and more relevant.
In this blog post, we will explore the reasons for the growing popularity of distance and online learning programmes, and show you the most important factors when choosing an institute.
Reasons for the growing popularity
More and more people are deciding to take an online course, and the number of providers and available programmes is growing steadily. This development can be explained by a number of factors:
The coronavirus pandemic has finally made working from home a common reality. Remote work is firmly established in the working world. According to statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the UK, as many as 44% of working adults reported either working from home only or both working from home and travelling to work over the period September 2022 to January 2023.
The advantages are similar to those of distance learning. Remote work is established – a fact that contributes to the acceptance and public awareness of online education. This results in an increased demand and an expanded range of distance learning courses.
The popularity of distance learning programmes can also be explained by the growing recognition they receive from employers. For a long time, there was a prejudice that distance learning could not offer the same quality and acceptance as traditional on-site learning. In fact, many distance learning programmes are now just as highly regarded as on-site programmes and in addition offer further advantages.
The advantages of distance learning: flexibility in terms of time and location
Thanks to technological progress, it is getting gradually easier to study from home, making it possible to organise the schedule more flexibly while, for example, fulfilling other commitments and reducing the daily burden of commuting to the campus.
A study by the British magazine THE Times Higher Education has shown that flexibility is the biggest benefit of online learning, students say. Whether it’s early in the morning, late at night or at the weekend – the learning schedule can be adapted to suit your lifestyle.
In addition, distance learning allows for a range of different learning paces. This means that learning is not only possible at any time, but also at your own individual pace.
Many distance learning courses and programmes can also be completed while working or during an apprenticeship due to their high degree of flexibility, which can give you financial independence and improve your career prospects.
To be sure that you receive a high-quality education, you should also check that the institution is accredited. Distance learning courses designed not only to help you with your hobby but also to improve your career prospects are checked and approved by the ZFU in Germany (you can find out more about the ZFU approval of the HOFA-College courses in this blog post).
Distance learning – key factors to beware of
During a distance learning course, you are dependent on yourself for learning, which can be quite challenging for some learners. A well-designed distance learning programme is therefore one in which you receive support and assistance despite the physical distance. In addition, your individual learning progress and the next milestones should always be clearly recognisable.
For this reason, the HOFA-College courses are based on a multimedia learning platform, the Online Campus. This contains the entire course material, videos, digital live lectures and all assignments and exams in a well-structured overview.
To further support the learning process, the HOFA tutors are available by phone, email and chat from Monday to Friday and answer most questions within 24 hours.
In many distant learning courses, the focus is on theoretical knowledge rather than practical exercises. But a high level of practical training is essential so that the acquired knowledge can be applied and consolidated.
To ensure a practical education, the HOFA-College students regularly complete tasks at their own place. This also leads to a more skilled handling of their equipment. The practical tasks are then individually analysed and evaluated by a team of experienced audio engineers and tutors. This way, each student regularly receives individual feedback on their learning progress.
The fees for distance learning programmes can vary considerably. To choose the right model for you, it is important to compare prices and features as well as the options for flexible breaks and short cancellation periods – in other words, fair course conditions (more information can be found here). When you start at HOFA-College, you don’t have to decide on the entire programme right away. Instead, you can first take the AUDIO DIPLOMA with monthly course fees starting at just €140. Once you have completed this course and are aiming for a bachelor’s degree, you can register for the one-year bachelor’s programme (find out more about the HOFA bachelor’s programme in this blog post).
By studying online, you also have the opportunity to earn an income during your courses, which helps to balance out the financial load. After graduating, you can expect a higher monthly income, which makes distance learning worthwhile in the long term. This was also the result of the IU Trend Study Distance Learning 2023, for example: 79.5% of the graduates interviewed stated that their distance learning had paid off for them from a financial point of view.
Outlook – the future of distance learning
Distance learning in particular will continue to develop as a result of technical advances and will increasingly benefit from digital opportunities. New technologies will change the way people learn and how learning content is provided. Distance learning will be more interactive and dynamic in the future – and individually tailored to the needs of each student.
Overall, people’s digital skills are improving, not least because most students have grown up with a great deal of technical know-how and already have the equipment needed for distance learning, such as a laptop, at home.
The various work and life concepts show that a ‘one size fits all’ solution, as offered by on-site degree programmes, has its drawbacks. By contrast, distance learning is a flexible, modern and practical way to develop both on a professional and personal level – another reason for the growing popularity of distance learning.
Your online course at HOFA-College
As you can see, distance learning today is much more than a specialised niche. With the appropriate choice of programme and a suitable institution, students will find many doors open to them.
If you are looking for a way to gain professional training in audio engineering and music production and learn new skills, an online course at HOFA-College might be the right choice for you. We offer you practical and certified courses in music production, audio engineering and other fascinating topics.
Learn more about the HOFA-College courses in audio engineering through our website or contact us if you have any further questions:
