Universities and college campuses are places where students come and study for their better future and their overall development. As all the sectors are affecting by the rapid spread of the corona virus (Covid-19) outbreak, similarly corona virus is creating uncertainty regarding the implications for higher education.
Over the past weeks, education officials have been forced to cancel classes and close the doors to campuses across the world in response to the growing corona virus outbreak. In addition, US institutions have switched classes to online learning, cancelled spring break trips and students studying abroad in China, Italy and South Korea have been encouraged to return home to complete their studies.
As the classes are closed due to corona virus, there may be dips in enrollment at the beginning of a new semester and cancellations may be temporary, it’s hard to foresee whether the novel corona virus will result in long-term disruption to the higher education system.
Maximize online learning
To keep the students retain with the studies and colleges, the most effective tool is maintaining access to learning has been online courses. In India, any universities have adjusted their programs in response to the spread of the corona virus.
Develop robust systems
Most colleges and universities incorporate some form of online education into their coursework, it can be difficult to transfer all online programs to. Those universities that already have large online systems; smaller universities may have difficulty embracing this transition from offline to online. In this time IT course developers will work directly with their IT departments to ensure their programs are able to be supported online.
University course creators should work closely with their IT departments to Educate students on best practices.
With online learning the way to go, universities should also ensure students and staff are protected while on campus.
Even though Covid-19 poses a high risk to those over 60, traditional-age university students face relatively low disease risks. Furthermore, we have seen how rapidly the novel coronavirus can spread in places with high concentration of people in previous times-and college campuses are no exception.
Administrators should undertake simple measures to prevent the spread of the disease on their campuses. This should include instructing students on the appropriate protocols for hand washing, covering sneezes and coughs with their elbows, and self isolating if they are experiencing flu or cold-like symptoms.
Teachers should also be mindful of students who have travelled around the world during the spring break and advise someone who has been abroad to be mindful of returning to campus in significantly affected areas.
Gather information and apply learnings
Universities that have yet to implement changes to the campuses in response to the novel coronavirus will take indications from those that have taken some steps already. We will analyze the steps that other educators have indeed taken to consider what worked, what didn’t really work, and how to overcome the challenges we may face. With the spread of the illness predicted to deteriorate until it gets better, Educators will take immediate precautions to protect their campuses and students as they prepare for future closures.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The higher education sector has withstood turbulent economic times in the past, and it will withstand them again. In a digital age, universities and colleges are better placed today more than ever to provide students with easy access to continue their studies online.
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