Stylianos Antalis, founder of YES ‘N’ YOU, shares his expert insights on distance learning and the impact of the health crisis on training in general.
“Today, we are experiencing a new way of consuming training. Training has greater impact than in the past since the learner becomes an active participant in their own training. They no longer passively receive it. A new market is being created.”
France is a country that advocates for and favors in-person interactions, whether it’s meetings, office work, or training. Many events have questioned the necessity of in-person attendance, particularly for professional training.
It all began with the transportation strikes in December 2019. Indeed, companies and their employees, unable to travel, had to cancel a large number of training sessions. It was at this point that digitalization of training became essential. YES ‘N’ YOU had already opted for distance learning since 2008. And fortunately so, because just 3 months after the strikes, France faced its first lockdown. Overnight, French workers found themselves cut off from the professional world they knew. Everyone had to learn to work remotely, organizing their weeks while balancing work and partial unemployment. As a result, distance learning naturally became a true motivational driver for employees, particularly to develop certain skills that were lacking. Unsurprisingly, English ranks in the top 3 most requested training programs. Followed, of course, by remote management, and then competency assessment training.
Throughout the crisis period, companies were able to provide their employees with training through CPF services, training plans, and collective initiatives with OPCOs, as well as the FNE-Training scheme. It should be noted that French employees have a genuine need for training, and this is even more true today. 89% of French workers said they were ready to pursue distance learning in 2021 (before Covid-19, 51% of French employees had adopted blended learning).
Stylianos Antalis points out that there has been a genuinely positive impact on training despite the current situation. Training enabled employees to maintain human connection during these long periods of “downtime”. YES ‘N’ YOU was able to keep in touch with learners through their trainers located worldwide.
Stylianos Antalis’s advice: “When choosing a training program, don’t hesitate to research forums or social media to avoid falling into the trap of scams. You should also trust your HR teams to guide employees and suggest the right training programs.”
YES ‘N’ YOU is an EdTech company offering innovative training solutions.
Founded in 2007 by passionate educators and technology enthusiasts, YES ‘N’ YOU is a pioneer and creator of Task-Based Blended Learning, the most effective and cost-efficient training solution.
A key player in Digital Learning, from language training to customized corporate training (COOCs, SPOCs), YES ‘N’ YOU works with France’s and the world’s leading companies: BNP Paribas, Vente-Privée, Vinci, Leroy Merlin, AXA, Auchan, Heineken, Franck Provost, Transavia…
YES ‘N’ YOU develops innovative blended learning programs, which can be in-person or distance-based, with an original approach and exclusive pedagogical concept for rapid progress.