Some 30 percent of EU internet users aged 16 and above participated in online courses or used online education within the last three months, up from 28 percent in 2022.
Some 30 percent of EU internet users aged 16 and above participated in online courses or used online education within the last three months, up from 28 percent in 2022.
There is a two-percentage-point increase in online education across countries in the European Union in 2023, according to data from Eurostat, the official statistical office of the EU.
The data revealed that 30 percent of EU internet users aged 16 and above participated in online courses or used online education within the last three months, up from 28 percent in 2022, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.
The Netherlands emerged as the top nation, with 54 percent of users engaging in online studies in 2023. Finland followed closely with 53 percent, while Sweden secured the third spot with 48 percent. Spain and Estonia also showcased a substantial share, standing at 47 percent and 45 percent, respectively.
“At the other end of the scale, doing online courses or using online learning material was not very common in Romania (10 percent), Cyprus (16 percent), Bulgaria and Greece (both 17 percent), and Poland (18 percent),” the Eurostat noted.
On the flip side, Romania (10 percent), Cyprus (16 percent), Bulgaria and Greece (both 17 percent), and Poland (18 percent) report lower percentages of individuals involved in online education.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands experienced a surge of 12 percentage points compared to 2022, while Sweden followed with a seven-point increase. Malta, Estonia, and Croatia all record a five-point rise each.
In contrast, Greece and Cyprus witnessed decreases of 12 and five percentage points, respectively. Austria and Slovenia note a minor decline of two percentage points each.
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) anticipated that by 2023, approximately 45 percent of 25-34-year-olds in Europe will graduate, exceeding the target set by the EU’s strategic framework for education and training collaboration.
According to the JRC, challenges persist as some Member States, including Spain, Italy, and Hungary, are yet to reach their 2030 goals,
“However, there is considerable uncertainty associated with this forecast, and there is significant heterogeneity across Member States,” the JRC said.
“Some countries have already achieved the nine per cent target, while others reported high levels of ELET and are less likely to go below nine per cent in 2030,” it added.
The aftermath of conflict and disruption
While COVID-19 appears to have had minimal impact on student dropout rates, the conflict in Ukraine has significantly affected educational outcomes, negatively influencing rates of early school leavers and tertiary education achievements, as highlighted in the report.
In 2021, the European Union witnessed a significant influx of international students in tertiary education, reaching a total of 1.52 million students from abroad.
The majority, 43.6 percent, were pursuing bachelor’s degrees, while 44.0 percent were engaged in master’s programs. Doctoral degrees accounted for 10.2 percent, and 2.2 percent were enrolled in short-cycle tertiary courses.
Germany emerged as the primary host nation, welcoming 24.8 percent of the total international tertiary education student population in the EU. Following closely were France (16.6 percent) and the Netherlands (8.9 percent).
Luxembourg stood out with the highest proportion of students from abroad, reaching 49.3 percent, while Cyprus followed with 21.8 percent. On the contrary, Spain (3.6 percent), Italy (3.4 percent), Greece (2.8 percent), and Croatia (2.7 percent) reported lower proportions.
In Latvia, over half of foreign tertiary students come from Asia, while France and Portugal drew significant numbers from Africa. Spain and Portugal have notable shares from the Caribbean, Central, and South America.
China, including Hong Kong, topped the list with 5.8 percent of total international students, hosted mainly by Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Sweden.
