The next few years will see an intensive growth of use of ICT for education in the rural sector. We have a vision, and are working out a model with Government agencies that is economically viable, so that every village school in India can have a bilingual version of Eureka.
What are your core products? What gives you an edge over others?
Designmate’s focus is on teaching and learning tools for Science and Mathematics. There are a lot of producers for other subjects; but Designmate is practically alone in these two subjects, particularly for senior classes.
What are the specific issues within the sector of ICT and Education that you think your product can address?
Implementation of ‘Eureka’ in the rural sector can help tackle some issues:
Bilingual- Science and Maths are not easy for rural children as they are English centric. Use of bilingual facility will increase the percentage of rural children in India’s institutes of higher learning plus these children will also pick up English faster.
Shortage and absence of teachers- On an average million teachers abstain every working day. Even if there is no teacher, some instruction can be enabled, with our software ‘Eureka’.
Help cover up infrastructural deficiencies- Science and Maths are capital intensive in need of laboratories and equipment. Eureka has the next best virtual labs as a solution to physical infrastructure till it can be built up.
What in your opinion is driving the e-Learning market in India? Which Sector in the e Learning market will see extensive growth in the next few years?
Education is a very traditional field and inroads difficult to make. But teachers in India have by and large realised that ICT can actually help them teach better and they are now looking around for ways to innovate. This awareness, slightly delayed, is now gaining momentum and is now driving the e-Learning market. My Company has not done any ad blitz, yet gradually, by word of mouth we have added numbers and today have established the largest number of ‘smart schools’ in the world! The next few years will see an intensive growth of use of ICT for education in the rural sector.
What are the key challenges and road blocks that this industry faces in its paths of growth?
The industry is unable to deploy what it produces due to crippling power shortages and lack of infrastructure on the ground.
What has been your most crucial learning experience in this sector?
Costs are soon forgotten, but quality stays forever. That even in a price sensitive market as India, the customer is willing to spend money on good quality products.
Where do you see e-Learning in India after five years? What is your personal agenda for this period?
India is like an elephant – a slow starter. In five years, e-Learning practices will be in wide usage. We have a vision, and are working out a model with Government agencies that is economically viable so that every village school in India can have a bilingual version of Eureka. In five years we will reach a level of quality that others will find difficult to catch up to. 
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