Indians prefer degrees over online courses

A recent report by TeamLease EdTech shows that most Indian professionals still trust long-term degrees. The report, titled ‘Impact of Upskilling on Performance Appraisals’, finds that 66% of respondents firmly believe that traditional degrees and diplomas continue to hold a strong value in career growth.

While degrees remain important for career advancement, the report also shows that professionals actively use short-term courses to address immediate job needs. Over 50% of respondents reported using platforms like YouTube and short online certifications that last 1 to 3 months.

This trend is more common in sectors like Sales and Marketing, where over 80% of professionals said they used short courses to develop role-specific skills. However, when it comes to gaining promotions or shifting roles, long-term academic programmes still dominate.

Formal education, the report suggests, plays a bigger role than just providing knowledge. For many, it acts as a credential during performance reviews and appraisals. In an era where employees are steering their own career journeys, the weight of a recognised degree appears to offer both structure and security.

One of the major findings points to long-term career planning as the biggest reason behind upskilling. About 61% of those surveyed cited future planning as their key motivation. These individuals were found to be three times more likely to feel confident about their career direction.

Surprisingly, nearly half - about 46%-of professionals self-funded their most recent learning effort, while only 24% received full support from their employers. Tech and finance professionals led in self-funding, with about 78% in these sectors covering their costs.

The report highlights a clear pattern: professionals rely on short-term learning for daily tasks but lean on formal education for long-term gains. Over 42% of respondents reported receiving a promotion, new role, or salary hike within 18 months of upskilling, and many of them had invested in long-term courses.

The study, based on responses from over 14,000 professionals across sectors like Sales, Tech, HR, and Finance, sheds light on how upskilling choices affect career milestones such as appraisals and promotions.