As we approach Election Day, investors are understandably wondering and maybe even anxious about how the U.S. presidential election will affect the stock market. Election years often come with increased market uncertainty. And this year, COVID-19 and a fragile economy have added new dimensions to what may be a landmark U.S. election cycle.

Regardless of who ends up winning in November, the election will likely play a factor in the markets. Here are a few things investors should consider:

This years election season has been marked by unusual circumstances. Republican incumbent President Trump is running for a second term after a surprise victory in 2016. Whereas former Vice President Joe Biden began the campaign season competing against 25 candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination before emerging as the partys nominee after a rocky start.

There are many important issues at stake, including trade, healthcare, tax policies, social justice and our relationship with China. How well the economy is doing is also a significant influence on the election outcome, especially for an incumbent or incumbent party. But that calculus has suddenly become clouded by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. How long the virus will persist and how significant the impact on economic growth will be remains unclear at the moment.

Even without these usual circumstances created by the pandemic, it isnt uncommon for the stock market to exhibit a degree of volatility in the run-up to an election. This can be particularly true in the final weeks leading up to the election and if the race is close. Investors should be prepared for circumstances where the noise generated by the campaign contributes to market fluctuations.

Its true that our president has tremendous influence in the direction our country takes. However, it is important to keep in mind that regardless of who is successful in winning the White House, there is a significant difference between proposals and policy. How much any administration can accomplish is influenced quite heavily by the makeup of the House of Representatives, Senate, local and state legislatures, Federal regulators, as well as circumstances in the economy and the country at large.

In addition to electing a president this fall, voters will also be electing 35 senators, now occupied by 23 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Currently, the Republican party has a three-seat majority in the Senate. And as happens every two years, the entire House, where the Democratic party currently controls a 35seat majority, is up for reelection.

While no two election years offer the same set of economic or political circumstances, it may be instructive to take a look back to see how markets have performed in the past as a means of providing some context for the present.

Historically, market volatility begins to rise about 45 days ahead, or roughly three weeks into September, before peaking one week before the election (David Joy, Ameriprise Chief Market Strategist. Aug. 2020).

In instances where control of the White House changes parties, stock market volatility tends to increase (Ameriprise Financial: Committee Perspectives: U.S. Election Guide Aug. 2020. Compiled by Ameriprise Global Asset Allocation Committee).

During an election year, U.S. stocks and bonds tend to perform better compared to the year after (Report: Stock Market Performance By President, Darrow Wealth Management).

Interestingly, there has been very little difference in the performance of the economy under Democratic and Republican presidents since 1977. According to recent analysis by Deutsche Bank, The average growth rate for a Democrat President is 2.9% compared to 2.7% for a Republican President.( Deutsche Bank Economic Analysis, 2020). However, it is acknowledged that the economic performance during a presidents term isnt necessarily a direct result of the actions of their administration, as presidents ultimately inherit an economy shaped by their predecessors actions, as well as other structural factors.

What may be a more important consideration for investors than who is elected president are the longer-term drivers of economic growth and corporate profits, which are shaped by policy, but also other factors outside Washington.

Although its speculative to try and predict the outcome of the election and all of the policy implications each party would impose, the result of the election is likely to influence key industries. Among the sectors of the market that could be affected in different ways are healthcare, energy and technology depending on the results of the election.

While its natural to think about the impact of the election on your investments, its only one factor. Stay attuned to the bigger picture of your long-term goals. Review your portfolio diversification and risk tolerance with a financial advisor for an objective perspective on your financial situation.

Bronwyn L. Martin is a Financial Advisor Chartered Financial Consultant with Martins Financial Consulting Group, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. in Kennett Square and Havre de Grace, Md. She specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 18 years. To contact her visit http://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/bronwyn.x.martin

Original post:
PERSONAL FINANCE: Will the election impact markets and investments? [Column] - The Mercury

A partnership between Haywood County and Canton may be just the ticket to selling the final parcel at the Beaverdam Industrial Park, just off I-40 near Canton.

In 1993, the two entities purchased a 103-acre parcel serve as a place where industry could locate in Haywood. Since that time, three businesses have moved into the park, generating $500,000 in taxes annually, Haywood County Program Administrator David Francis told the county commissioners.

The county spent $700,000 a dozen years ago to prep a 10-acre shovel-ready building pad in the industrial park. There have been plenty of lookers, but nary a buyer. Francis told the commissioners last week having water and sewer services available onsite could make the difference.

The county has been a finalist for three companies looking for a place to relocate, but the sites lack of of water, sewer, electricity and gas are stumbling blocks, Francis said.

The county applied for a Golden Leaf grant to extend water and sewer services, but a specific company is needed first. Waiting until that happens would delay a move-in date. The county is ineligible for state grants because it is ranked a Tier 3, which is one of the more prosperous ranking. State grants are most often earmarked for economically distressed counties.

A price quote from McGill Associates of Asheville showed the cost for the water/sewer extensions would be between $232,000 and $250,000.

As Francis was discussing the project with Canton Town Manager Jason Burrell, the duo came up with a proposal whereby the town would do the labor to extend the lines if the county would cover the materials cost.

New estimates showed the materials, piping, permitting process through the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and a site survey showing where the lines should go would cost $110,000.

At a meeting last week, the county commissioners voted to cover the $110,000, and two days later, the Canton governing board authorized Burrell to use the town crew to do the work.

Its a good partnership, Francis told the commissioners, noting a company that would bring in 200 jobs is continuing to look at the site.

Were one of three left, Francis said of the entities still vying for the project.

Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick said the offer was one that was extremely hard to pass up.

The board voted 4 to 1 to approve the project, with Commissioner Mark Pless dissenting.

Pless later said he objected on the grounds that he opposed the COVID-19-related budget cuts that resulted in postponing employee raises.

I personally think the first item we invested in should have been our employees, not running a water and sewer line to a piece of property we have no buyer for or business committed to build on, Pless said in an email. We as a board can say thank you to our employees, however, it seems pretty insincere when a water line seems more important than their sacrifices.

As Burrell explained the project to the town board last week, he said there were two schools of thought on enhancing the Beaverdam site.

Its a benefit to the site in terms of having it completely prepped and ready for a new development, Burrell said. One thought is, build it and they will come. The other is, lets wait for them to get interested and then build.

The waiting option is that a good prospect could be lost because the company didnt want to wait for the work to be done, he said.

In partnering with the county, were trying to be proactive, Burrell said.

He later estimated that if the town crew spent four to five weeks on the project, the value would be between $18,000 and $25,000. However, the out-of-pocket costs to the town will be negligible since the crew will do the work during down time between other jobs.

There is no certain time frame for town employees to do the work, Burrell said, except that it will likely be done in the next three months.

Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers called the action a bold move to be prepared for growth and refocus attention on smart growth and job creation.

Link:
County, town to invest in industrial site | News | themountaineer.com - The Mountaineer

The digital payments industry has many catalysts for growth in both pre and post pandemic. The ETFMG Prime Mobile Payments ETF (IPAY) gives exposure to innovative companies in this sector and is my recommended ETF for this purpose.

Prior to the COVID pandemic, digital payments were already growing significantly, as more and more people turned to the convenience of online shopping. For in-person transactions, cash is cumbersome and a pain to carry at times, and so digital payment methods such as Apple (AAPL) Pay are growing quickly. The allure of fast peer-to-peer (P2P) payments to settle personal transactions rather than dealing with cash or mailing a check has driven increased adoption of payment methods such as PayPal (PYPL), Venmo, and Square's (SQ) CashApp. Cash is trash, in more ways than just inflation.

The digital payments market is expected to continue to accelerate with the pandemic spurring more growth, especially in digital point-of-service (POS) transactions. The e-commerce market is expected to grow 20% in 2020 while in-person department store transactions are expected to decline significantly. In addition, due to the pandemic, people are moving away from using cash as it increases the amount of surface area to spread germs. Instead, more consumers and businesses are opting for contactless digital payments to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Nearly 50% of global shoppers say they are using digital payments more than before the pandemic.

Source

Prior to the pandemic, many households were prevented from participating in digital payments due to financial (lack of bank accounts) and digital (lack of internet access and/or understanding) barriers, as the Kansas Federal Reserve Bank notes. The pandemic has catalyzed both private and public efforts to remove those barriers through policies and legislation. As our technological infrastructure continues to improve, we should see increased access to digital payments for a higher percentage of the population.

Data by YCharts

I personally choose to invest in the IPAY ETF to invest in this sector. Its expense ratio is pricey at around 0.75% but that is typical of more actively managed ETFs. It is difficult to find an alternative, low-cost and passive ETF because I want to specifically target companies in the financial services sector that are technologically focused and innovative. A financial services sector ETF like XLF doesn't choose tech focused companies. The NASDAQ-100 tech focused ETF QQQ doesn't focus on financial services.

The top holdings of IPAY resonate with me and are stocks I would definitely hold individually. It's likely cheaper to purchase those stocks and replicate the ETF rather than pay the expense ratio. However, I would lose the benefit of diversification, rebalancing, and management. Additionally, if a broker does not support fractional shares well, it is difficult to purchase individual components affordably.

I want to highlight a few of the top holdings, Square, PayPal, Visa (V), and Mastercard (MA) and how they are doing during the pandemic and also moving forward.

The current top holding of IPAY is Square which a company I also hold individually as I strongly believe in the company. It is a perfect mix of exposure to the digital payments industry in both business and P2P transactions as well as technological innovation.

It has been able to penetrate the small business market because its technology gives businesses an end-to-end payments solution, both software and hardware, from accepting payments to inventory management to business analytics with lower overhead costs and is very easy to setup.

In its 2020Q2 shareholder letter, it shows that its CashApp business (P2P) grew 361% in revenue and 167% in gross profit YoY. Its seller ecosystem (business POS) fell 17% for revenue and 9% for gross profit YoY due to the pandemic and its large exposure to small businesses. However, it notes that every month in Q2 saw increases in sales volume and transactions as lockdown orders were lifted. It expects the positive trend to continue from July onwards.

Paypal provides similar offerings as Square and also benefits from a shift to digital payments. It has Venmo for its P2P segment and its core Paypal offering facilitates tons of online transactions for smaller businesses. For Q2 2020, it reported record growth in both its business and P2P segments transactions. Revenue increased 25% YoY and earnings increased 48% YoY. It also raised its third quarter guidance based on this growth.

These two industry giants dominate 90% of the debit and credit card transactions market. Though Square, Paypal, and other digital payment tech companies are growing quickly, most of the transactions that go through their systems are linked to credit and debit cards issued by Visa and Mastercard, meaning Visa and Mastercard also benefit as digital payment transactions grow, even if consumers aren't physically swiping cards anymore. For example, Square's Cash Card debit card is issued by Visa. Their main competitors, cash and ACH transactions, will decline due to the effects of the pandemic.

The two companies did face headwinds in 2020 Q2 due to decline in consumer purchases. However, as the Square shareholder letter suggests, based on increase in transactions in their seller ecosystem, consumer confidence is slowly returning and these companies stand to benefit. The consumer confidence index in OECD countries also reflect a slow return.

Source

Additionally, these two companies are positioning themselves for the digital payment growth. As noted by Mastercard CEO, Michael Meibach, We are providing digital-first solutions that leverage our tokenization and other digital technologies to meet these changing needs." Visa also acknowledges the importance of this growth and is continuing to improve its technology to meet the demands of digital payments.

While the pandemic is causing a shift from cash to digital payments, there is still inherent risk from the weak economy. Consumers could simply consume less in general which means both cash AND digital payments decline. With the extended unemployment benefits expiring in July and no second stimulus bill is sight as of the publication of this article, the consumer market is likely in for some pain.

Despite this, I still believe that in the long term we will recover from the fallout of the pandemic eventually. Dr. Fauci believes we will return to normal eventually, but likely not until the end of 2021. In the meantime, the business outlooks from the top holdings of IPAY are cautiously optimistic even during the pandemic and are certainly not near bankruptcy risk like companies in the hospitality, travel, and entertainment industry.

If you choose to invest, be prepared to hold long term (> 5 years) and ride out the volatility caused by the pandemic. I choose to invest now as I believe the price will only get more expensive if and when vaccines are announced to be safe and begin distribution. I also recommend continually monitoring the performance of the top holdings to check that they are still growing and thriving in the current environment.

Disclosure: I am/we are long IPAY, SQ. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosure: I am not a financial advisor. All recommendations here are purely my own opinion and is intended for a general audience. Please perform your own due diligence and research for your specific financial circumstances before making an investment decision.

See the article here:
ETFMG Prime Mobile Payments ETF: Investing In The Digital Payments Industry - Seeking Alpha

Historically, market volatility begins to rise about 45 days ahead, or roughly three weeks into September, before peaking one week before the election.

In instances where control of the White House changes parties, stock market volatility tends to increase.

During an election year, U.S. stocks and bonds tend to perform better compared to the year after.

Interestingly, there has been very little difference in the performance of the economy under Democratic and Republican presidents since 1977. According to recent analysis by Deutsche Bank, The average growth rate for a Democrat president is 2.9% compared to 2.7% for a Republican president.

However, it is acknowledged that the economic performance during a presidents term isnt necessarily a direct result of the actions of their administration, as presidents ultimately inherit an economy shaped by their predecessors actions, as well as other structural factors.

What may be a more important consideration for investors than who is elected president are the longer-term drivers of economic growth and corporate profits, which are shaped by policy, but also other factors outside Washington.

Although its speculative to try and predict the outcome of the election and all of the policy implications each party would impose, the result of the election is likely to influence key industries. Among the sectors of the market that could be affected in different ways are health care, energy and technology depending on the results of the election.

View post:
Commentary: Will the election impact markets and investments? - nwitimes.com

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Technavio has been monitoring the online education market and it is poised to grow by USD 247.46 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 18% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to transform the growth of various industries, the immediate impact of the outbreak is varied. While a few industries will register a drop in demand, numerous others will continue to remain unscathed and show promising growth opportunities. Technavios in-depth research has all your needs covered as our research reports include all foreseeable market scenarios, including pre- & post-COVID-19 analysis. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impacts

Frequently Asked Questions-

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. 2U Inc., Ambow Education Holding Ltd., Coursera Inc., edX Inc., iTutorGroup, LinkedIn Corp., McGraw-Hill Education Inc., Pearson Plc, Udacity Inc., and Udemy Inc. are some of the major market participants. The growing advantages of online learning will offer immense growth opportunities. To make most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.

View market snapshot before purchasing

Technavio's custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct & indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations.

Online Education Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Online Education Market is segmented as below:

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43516

Online Education Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The online education market report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the rapid penetration of Internet-enabled devices as one of the prime reasons driving the online education market growth during the next few years.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavios in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports.

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Online Education Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Type

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Vendor Landscape

Vendor Analysis

Appendix

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Read more:
Online Education Market- Roadmap for Recovery from COVID-19 | Growing Advantages of Online Learning to boost the Market Growth | Technavio - Business...

Online learning is exploding and everyone at colleges, universities and trade schools is adapting. Heres how leveraging brand ambassadors and testimonials can be a key differentiator to finding success and can set academic programs apart.

My path to becoming CEO of Investis Digital was shaped profoundly by my experiences achieving an undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemical engineering at Rice University and obtaining a Master of Business Administration at Harvard University. So, its been especially painful to see higher education whipsawed by the ongoing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Colleges and universities are facing an unprecedented challenge to their viability. Many are adopting an online learning model, either fully or partially. The reality is that online learning was already becoming a more popular mode of education.

Don Scales, Investis Digital

Online learning taking hold

It may very well turn out that traditional colleges and universities will adopt the model in some fashion permanently. To do so, they need to adopt a new mindset about online learning: its an attractive format, not a necessary alternative. But colleges need to amplify this message more so than they are doing now. How? I believe colleges and universities need to learn some lessons from educators that adapted the online model a while ago and are succeeding today with it. One of these lessons is levering the power of your students as brand ambassadors.

Students fearful of the online experience need to hear from other students about the reality. They need to know that an online education is the path to greater success. They need to know that you can enjoy a fulfilling college experience online, too. Many online educators are doing that right now.

Happy customers bring in new customersand the education industry is no different. Its especially important to feature testimonials in online education. Prospective students need to hear from other students to get assurance that online programs help people succeed.

One of my favorite examples is the University of Florida and its online program testimonial page. Not only does it do a great job in showcasing diversity but also in the variation of the online programsoffered.

Video is a powerful tool and the testimonial of former student Mikeisha whose son was diagnosed with cancer is not only compelling but inspiring. Because of University of Floridas health education and behavior online program, she was able to complete her education and set an example for her daughter who the video goes on to say wants to attend the school just like her mother. The storytelling humanizes the university and gives prospective students examples of what success looks like. To further supplement the video, the page also includes key statistics that a prospective student should knowlike its U.S. News ranking, exclusive benefits when joining the program and financial aid. The site iterates that the online education degree received is no different from one attained on campus.

Schools that excel at offering testimonials do several things well. They:

For instance, Minerva Voices consists of interviews with students who discuss why they chose Minerva. The testimonials feel authentic because the students hit head-on potential objections a student might have. Khan Academy us a nonprofit with the mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone Khan Academy features powerful testimonials from all over the world stories of people overcoming personal challenges and economic limitations. The testimonials also speak to Khan Academys global impact.

Social media gives educators a powerful way to bring to life what it feels like to receive an online education. When this is done through the eyes of students, social media makes the experience more authentic.

The University of Phoenix does so exceptionally. Its Instagram does a great job using visual stories to give insight into the lives of its community. The university uses filters and hashtags combined with photos of its students integrating the online experience with their everyday lives, such as a recent post that showed students studying at places ranging from the park to their pillow forts. Other Instagram posts help you understand more about students lifestylestheir families, their exercise routines, and many other aspects of their lives that provide a fuller picture.

The only certainty we know is this: higher education is changing forever. Universities that adapt now will make that change work for them.

Don Scales, global chief executive officer of Investis Digital, has more than 30 years of digital experience. He previously led global operations at interactive agencies iCrossing and Agency.com. Investis Digital is publisher of The Connected Content Guide to Online Education, available for download here.

See the original post:
Unleash your brand ambassadors for online education | - University Business

18 strategies to be better prepared

The Covid-19 pandemic has created massive challenges for the higher education industry worldwide, where one of the significant challenges is for universities to prepare for a complete shift towards online teaching, away from face-to-face teaching.

Universities could not at first imagine the complete transition to online learning -- online learning was an option previously, besides physical or face-to-face learning.

Now, online learning is the only option for students and educators with which to continue education.

In online learning, using the internet, students get access to the learning content, they watch or listen to the recorded lectures or attend the live classes, try to learn for themselves, and finally appear for coursework or final exams.

It is estimated that around 203,200 classes have been conducted by 10,200 faculty members for more than 9.2 million attendees, which is a great success for digital transformation.

Keeping that in mind, here are some tips to make online learning more successful:

1. Stay focused: As a student you need to be focused on your coursework, learning goals, expectations, the grade you want to achieve, your deadlines.

2. Stay confident: Dont get frustrated. If you feel down, believe that there is a reward waiting for you.

3. Maintain self- discipline: You need to follow rules about study time, wake-up time, leisure time. Sometimes you can take a short break from your routine, and get back to it afterwards.

4. Keep track: Checking the online content regularly, keep notes or keep a record on your computer, so that you dont feel lost.

5. Communicate:To communicate with the faculty member, admin, or department, use formal communication language, always introduce yourself, mentioning which courses you are currently taking, your student ID, and then bring up the issues.

6. Have a study station: Make a specific study space which you find suitable, where you feel relaxed, and are away from noise.

Set your mind to study for a fixed amount of time, and dont et distracted by anything in between, such as games or social media.

7. Know the required platform: If you have three to four courses online, make a plan of those courses in terms of what tech you need, such as Zoom or Google Meet.

8. Keep a calendar:Try to keep a calendar. For example, Google Calendar provides reminders for all classes, schedules, and assignment deadlines, or any other scheduled activity.

9. Plan ahead: When you have some free time, think ahead about what you are going to do in the next one or two days. Follow the deadlines and plan accordingly.

Keep yourself mentally engaged, always thinking of how you need to prepare for your courses, or if theres something you have left to do.

10. Stay connected:Try to be in a network, where you have friends, groupmates, peers, with whom you can share feelings and thoughts during the lockdown. It will assist you in keeping motivated, in helping you feel that you are not lost.

11. Have a backup plan:If something goes wrong unexpectedly and you cannot finish your due work, have an alternative plan regarding your study strategies.

12. Know the tools and apps: What are the tools and apps you require for continuing online classes, and are they convenient for laptops or smartphones? Knowing the right devices can give you flexibility.

13. Before the final exam:When the final exam is near, plan very carefully, finish the online lectures, check if you have submitted all the coursework, or if there is anything left. Dont panic -- believe in yourself.

14. Take regular breaks: Take a break from your study to maintain a healthy diet, do some exercise, or do some recreational activities.

15. Stay motivated:Reward yourself when you meet deadlines and are done with all your coursework. Time to celebrate.

16. Ask questions: When you find things unclear, discuss with your faculty member or group members.

17. Enjoy study time:Devote your time and patience to learning online, and enjoy enriching yourself with knowledge.

18. Make time for family and leisure activities:To get the most out of of online learning, its very important for students to arrange family time.

This will allow you to refresh yourself so you can start again, energized.

Tania Akter is Lecturer, BRAC Business School, BRAC University.

More here:
OP-ED: Online education doesn't have to be daunting - Dhaka Tribune

This article was originally published here

Clin Rheumatol. 2020 Sep 17. doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05405-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has unsettled conventional medical education, hastening a switch to digital platforms and open-access publishing. Rheumatology is a fast evolving academic discipline that stands to gain by this switch. Most rheumatology textbooks are now available in digital formats, and these are complemented with live updating educational hubs such as UpToDate and ClinicalKey. Emerging topics of COVID-19 on these proprietary platforms are now freely available to all specialists. Social media channels, particularly Twitter, are becoming major players in the era of COVID-19 by offering online journal clubs, enabling fast dissemination of influential articles, and facilitating interactive education. Indexed rheumatology journals, in turn, aid online education by opening access to recommendations and other materials that are rapidly changing research and practice worldwide. Research peer review additionally offers learning experience to novice and seasoned researchers and authors. Global rheumatology societies have online learning resources, which are changing their format and geographic reach to meet the changing needs in the times of pandemic. While online teaching lacks emotional connections between mentors and mentees, switch to a more interactive format of education and regular contacts may partly solve the issue. Rheumatologists can take the lead in these challenging times and contribute more to online scholarly activities which are aimed to maintain and enrich education. Key Points Disparities in rheumatology education are likely to be widened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barriers to rheumatology education include limited number of instructors and their limited experience in online teaching. Online textbooks, didactic materials of indexed rheumatology journals, and frequently updated online educational hubs such as UpToDate serve as a foundation of online rheumatology education. Online rheumatology education is enriched by peer review and social media activities, which are becoming major players in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PMID:32939569 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-020-05405-9

Continue reading here:
Moving towards online rheumatology education in the era of COVID-19 - DocWire News

51Talk also continued to maintain a high gross margin of more than 70% and record high gross billings of RMB676.4 million. Operating cash flow was RMB172.1 million, a year-over-year increase of RMB72.9 million while net revenue was RMB493.5 million, a 40% increase year-over-year.

51Talk maintains leading position in market share

China's K-12 Online English Development Blue Book 2020 ("Blue Book"), released by Southern Weekly, a well-known Chinese media, and the big-data research center of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, shows that 51Talk ranks first among its industry peers at 46% market share, with the next two peers coming in at 18% and 16%. The Blue Bookalso shows that Chinese parents believe 51Talk provides the most superior service offering when it comes toimproving their children's English listening and speaking skills. The parents also noted that their children's speaking skills improved significantly after enrolling in 51Talk.

According to K-12 Online English One-on-One User Trend Research released byCTR Market Research, 51Talk enjoys total brand leadership with its cumulative 100 million classes delivered since its establishment in 2011. Its customer satisfaction rating also ranks first in the industry.

Strong market penetration in China and the Philippines fueled consistent profitability

In the second quarter of 2020, 71.3% of gross billings from the K-12 one-on-one mass market courses are from non-tier-one cities while 28.7% are from first-tier cities. Over the past two years, the growth of users in non-tier-one cities has exceeded that of first-tier cities. The success of this continuous downward market penetration has enabled 51Talk to attract customers with its competitive pricing, which further contributed to revenue growth.

51Talk's strong market growth has made it possible for its online teachers, a bulk of whom reside in thePhilippines, to enjoy better profits with their one-on-one courses. In the three most recent financial quarters, 51Talk has maintained a high gross margin of 70%. Instead of allocating a big chunk of its resources in traditional advertising and marketing, 51Talk focused on teaching quality and effectiveness as well as word-of-mouth referrals, to greatly reduce operating costs.

Since 51Talk started its operations in the Philippines, it has developed programs and campaigns to create awareness about the benefits of being an online English teacher. This year, the company welcomed Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach as its brand ambassador to attract more Filipino teachers.

Philippine teachers now more popular in China

In China, parents prefer Filipino teachers compared with counterparts from Europe and United States, according to the CTR Market Research. Although Filipinos are not native English speakers, the Philippine education system as well as businesses, use the English language, and thus the country consistently maintains top English proficiency ratings. Filipino teachers have been studying and learning English as a second language for years, so they are equipped with a deeper and more technical understanding of how to teach the English language.

Filipinos also take pride in their strong customer service. They are generally mild-mannered, modest, passionate, enthusiastic, cheerful and patient, which are ideal qualities to possess in order to effectively teach English to young kids. In addition, there is no time difference between the Philippines and China, so students and teachers can easily connect with more flexible class schedules. With all these advantages, Filipino teachers have gradually become the face of online English teachers in China.

51Talk's "Education for All" strategy, its downward market penetration approach, and its high-quality "Filipino Teachers' One-On-One Model" have helped the leading platform achieve excellent results in the second quarter of 2020. Brighter prospects also await the online English education industry as studies have shown that the scale of China's K-12 online education market is expected to exceed RMB304.5 billion in 2020. 51Talk, which leverages "Filipino Teachers' One-On-One Model" with a cost-effective and sustainable strategy, will surely continue to improve profitability in the future.

SOURCE China Online Education Group

Read the original post:
Online English Education Platform 51Talk Reports Its Third Consecutive Quarterly Profit - PRNewswire

Sep 15, 2020 11:15 AM ET iCrowd Newswire Sep 15, 2020

Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Online Education Market, by Product (Content, Services), by Technology (Mobile Learning, Learning Management System, Virtual Class, Others), by Vertical (K-12, Higher Education, Corporate, Others), and by Region: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2019 2026. According to the report, the global online education market was valued at USD 29.45 Billion in 2019 and is expected to reach over USD 205.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of around 32.7% during the forecast period from 2020 to 2026.

Online Education is the process of acquiring knowledge through electronic technologies and resources. A rise in the number of internet users has increased the market demand for sophisticated online learning courses. According to the Office for National Statistics, nearly all adults in the age group of 16 to 44 years in the UK were recent internet users (99%) in 2019.

According to the World Economic Forum, around 1.2 billion children are out of classrooms with schools shut down globally due to COVID-19 pandemic. Electronic Learning Management Systems such as Google Classroom are helping classes to connect distantly, communicate efficiently, and stay organized. Large-scale national efforts to leverage technology to the market players in support of distance education, remote, and online learning are emerging and evolving rapidly.

Recent technological advancements have seen exponential growth. In the education services sector, digital technology has advanced the concept of online education, which allows students from around the globe access educational content anytime and anywhere. In addition, there is no geographic barrier in the online education system which allows students from anywhere in the world to enrol in educational services. Furthermore, advances in interactive teaching methods in the online education field and highly cost-friendly technology make it possible for educational institutions to implement online education systems rapidly. In addition, due to the growing need for active learning the market is also expected to be improved. The availability of abundant free content and lack of knowledge, however, is constraining market development.

On the basis of segmentation the online education market is segmented by product, technology, vertical, and region. On the basis of product the market is segmented as content, services. Also, by technology, it is segmented as mobile learning, learning management system, virtual class, others. Further, on the basis of vertical it is segmented as K-12, higher education, corporate, others. Higher education is the largest category in terms of online education, due to its prominence among end users. Online education provides students with various courses and certifications in higher education while training users in online learning elements such as videos and chat rooms. Lastly, on the basis of region it is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America accounted for the largest market share. The market for online education in North America is driven by well-established infrastructure, highly skilled workforce and growing demand for BYOD by corporate organizations.

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The key players in global online education marketare Lynda.Com, Pearson PLC, McGraw-Hill Education, Blackboard Inc., Aptara Inc., Adobe Systems Inc., Docebo, Edmodo, PowerSchool Group LLC, Tata Interactive Systems among others.

The report segments global online education market into:

GlobalOnline EducationMarket: Product Segment Analysis

GlobalOnline EducationMarket: Technology Segment Analysis

GlobalOnline EducationMarket: Vertical Segment Analysis

GlobalOnline EducationMarket: Regional Segment Analysis

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Keywords:Online Education Market

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Online Education Market is set for a Rapid Growth and is expected to reach USD 205.4 Billion Globally by 2026 Zion Market Research - Reported Times