BENGALURU: A large majority of college-bound students about 85 percent said that digital capabilities, such as integration of technology into classrooms, virtual coursework and online classes, are a top determinant in choosing which university to attend, according to a five-country survey by Accenture. The survey of 1,500 students in Australia, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States found the strong demand for digital capabilities carried over to students currently attending a university as well as recent graduates, with the majority (70 percent) 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,” said Ryan Oakes, who leads Accenture’s education practice. “Like successful government programs and businesses, universities need to rise to the challenge of addressing demands for digital services among current and prospective students.”

At the same time, most students considered alternatives before deciding to attend university, and the survey showed that the cost of attending a university was the number one reason such university-bound secondary students across the five countries – 54 percent overall – said they were considering alternatives to higher education. The concern over cost was fairly consistent across the five countries, cited by 54 percent in Australia, 48 percent in India, 53 percent in Singapore, 59 percent in the United Kingdom and 55 percent in the United States.
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