Role of Blended Learning in Developing Skillful Human Capital in Punjab: Prospects & Challenges

Abstract

Blended learning as an approach of combining the traditional teaching modes with the use of digital means has become a critical approach of creating skilled human capital especially in areas such as Punjab, Pakistan. This paper was aimed at how blended learning can be used to develop technical, cognitive and interpersonal skills that can be applied to the workforce to support employability and productivity of the workforce through quantitative research approach. The survey-based method of descriptive research was adopted and a questionnaire was utilized in getting the data related to educators and administrators in different schools and technical institutes in Punjab. The statistical tools were also used in the study to achieve the correlations between variables including access to digital infrastructure, teacher readiness, and learner engagement with the results of skills development. The prospects of blended learning, such as the digital divide, insufficient training of teachers, and socio-economic disadvantages remain intact, as Learn Punjab and Digiskills.pk note. The research results revealed that the implementation of blended learning and the development of skills were significantly positively correlated, which asserted the necessity to make specific investments in infrastructure and policy changes to narrow down gaps.