Bertelsmann invests in India e-learning company

Bertelsmann has continued its rapid education expansion with a direct investment in iNurture Education Solutions, a provider of higher education services in India.

The investment has been reported at $5m.

Shobhna Mohn, executive vice president of emerging markets at Bertelsmann, said the investment addressed two of the company's strategic objectives: expansion in India and also in education.

Bangalore based iNurture partners with more than 20 universities and colleges in India, providing services including marketing, student placement and curriculum support. Ashwin Ajila, founder and c.e.o. of iNurture, explained the role played by his company" "While Indian higher education enrolment has grown at a rapid pace, the current system is facing the problem of quality and employability," he said. "After the top 25-30 universities, the quality drops dramatically and the percentage of ready-to-employ graduates is dismally low. iNurture is focused on bridging this gap by enabling students to gain access to industry relevant courses at universities."

The iNurture investment follows two recent US education moves by Bertelsmann in US education: the acquisition of e-learning company Relias Learning and an investment in online education provider Udacity.

In India, Bertelsmann also has a direct investment in online education platform Wiziq.com.