Translation and Localization Resources | SimulTrans

Translation of Online Educational Content Increases Enrollment

Written by Margarita Núñez | January 23, 2020

The convenience of logging onto a piece of technology and earning a formal degree online, completing a professional certification program via the net, or learning how to bake from scratch from an on-demand course is undebatable.

Education on Demand

With so many on-demand and online educational programs just a click away, today’s traditional and non-traditional students from all over the world are able to pursue and accomplish their personal and professional goals - from the comfort of their homes - with ease. However, if the course is offered only in one language, then you could very well loose this student and the fee!

International Learners

For international learners opting to take courses online instead of attending a traditional brick-and-mortar classroom, the convenience of online programs is only realized if the educational institution they are considering can meet the individual needs of the world’s diverse. While the process of enrolling in an online educational program or an on demand class is relatively simple, maneuvering one’s way through the weekly demands of the course can be challenging for a new online student – especially for an adult learner struggling through also trying to learn English.

For colleges and universities that offer online programs of study in only one language, potential students have no choice but to keep exploring the Internet for a similar program at a similar college that offers the course of study in their native language.

So, if you are in the education industry, whether providing eLearning, K-12 Education materials, higher education degrees, or corporate training courses, you should consider investing in translating your course content at least for the academic online programs.

Enrollment on the Increase

  • Results from a 2019 survey conducted by BestColleges.com indicate that there has been an increase in the online enrollment number of students representing diverse populations, including learners for whom English is a second language.
  • According to the Institute of International Education (2017), the number of international students enrolled in higher education institutions based in the United States reached over 1 million during the 2016 to 2017 academic year.
  • In a 2017 report from the Babson Survey Research Group, of all the students enrolled in online courses, nearly 50% of them have pursued all their post-high-school courses online only and have never enrolled in a traditional local classroom environment.

Clearly, there are millions of adult learners excited about and eager to pursue their formal and personal interests via an online program. However, bear in mind that 3 billion Internet users do not speak English, so that is a lot of students out there for which translated course content will be seen as a key differentiator.

Here are the top ten languages used in the web:

image: internetworldstats.com

Multilingual Content Will Increase Your Revenue

Providing courses that offer international students, the ability to view, participate in, and complete the online programs in their native language will one day be the norm. Nowadays, not all colleges, universities, and on demand programs provide that convenience though. To attract and sustain students from diverse cultural backgrounds, online colleges, universities, and on demand learning platforms must demonstrate to their students that they place a premium on providing value-added services to meet their students’ needs. That proof comes in the form of academic programs translated into various languages. Translating your course content will give your company a competitive advantage and add longevity to your offering in the online educational industry.

Choose a Professional Translation Service Provider

With the one-click-away interconnectedness of diverse cultures and countries, 21st century online educational programs that offer their courses and programs in multiple languages clearly will be the ones that not only sustain over time, but also thrive. The world is full of individuals seeking to learn, explore, and make things better in their own lives and the lives of those around them.

To address the challenges faced by online universities who want to increase enrollment, maintain longevity in a highly-competitive global market, and help millions of adult learns achieve their academic and learning goals, the solution is simple – choose to partner with a professional translation service provider with proven experience in:

  • translation of educational content
  • formatting of multilingual  documentation
  • voice-over and subtitling of eLearning content
  • website translation 

SimulTrans makes it super easy for companies in the Educational Industry to attract and help those multi-cultural individuals achieve their goals by literally speaking the same language.

Schedule a call today to discuss the localization of educational content with me.