A MODEL FOR ASSESSING THE ECONOMIC EFFECTIVENESS OF DIGITAL DISTANCE LEARNING PLATFORMS BASED ON COST, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL QUALITY INDICATORS

Abstract

Over the past decade, digital distance learning platforms have become a key element of the global education services market, which reached approximately USD 369.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed USD 731.8 billion by 2034. The article proposes an analytical model for assessing the economic effectiveness of distance learning platforms, taking into account three groups of indicators: costs (licensing, infrastructure, content, and support); student engagement (user activity, time on platform, course completion rate); and the quality of educational services (satisfaction, academic performance, career outcomes). A comparative economic analysis is conducted based on data from Coursera, edX, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Khan Academy for 2023–2024. It is shown that the introduction of digital platforms enables educational institutions to reduce operating costs by 20–35% while simultaneously increasing the accessibility of education. The findings are applicable for managing the quality and financial sustainability of educational programs in the Republic of Uzbekistan.