Higher education has been an alternative idea for decades in the form of distance learning. Now with COVID-19 pandemic in the whole world, several colleges unexpectedly have moved to compulsory distance education, so that the virus does not spread.

Well, this poses some questions: What is the safest way to easily provide online courses or to administer tests online? How can schools ensure that all students have access to the necessary remote studies technology? What if the health crisis continues for a long time? And many more.

At this unprecedented moment, institution teachers and administrators are collaborating to build tools together online, exchange best practices, quickly train professors in a way they could not perform remotely, and respond to an atmosphere that constantly changes.

The Dynamics of Economic Impact

The percentage of international students on national higher education markets is one of its biggest concerns for the sector as a whole. In the United States alone, 33.7% of the population of Chinese students is foreign, while 18.4% of the population is Indian.

Whilst travel restrictions to and from China have helped to slow the spread of the disease, foreign students have also been stranded.

Various such incidents further raise the questions from such situations, such as how do universities and colleges worldwide change their modes of higher education alongside maintaining programs and providing students with accessibility?

Taking Full Advantage of Online Learning

Online courses are the most successful tool in maintaining student retention and access to learning. In particular, universities across the world have modified their programs to address coronavirus spread. As such, teachers have to take different approaches as to how they can make their classes interesting. For instance, teachers can set out offline activities offline for students and set separate due dates for work that is done in small pieces.

Teachers should also diversify their remote outlets, such as learning sites, chat groups, and videos, to meet their pupils. It is also proposed that teachers should over-communicate with their students and not under.

Even school leaders need to be aware that students have time other than learning to undertake other activities. It is also advised that educators can discuss the online activity and the use of devices as well as sleep hours with parents.

Developing the best of Medium

Although most colleges and universities worldwide integrate some form of online education in higher education, it can be difficult to move all programs online. Some universities might have strong online systems, the weight of demand may be difficult to cope with in smaller

universities. Therefore, curriculum creators must cooperate with their IT departments to ensure that their programs are supported online.

Practicing with best Practices

With everything set up online, universities also need to ensure that students and staff are protected on campus.

School administrators should take straightforward steps to prevent the disease from spreading on campuses. This should include instructing students in the appropriate hand-washing protocols, covering sneezes and elbows with a cough, and isolating themselves when symptoms are flu or cold.

Educators must also learn about students who have been widely traveling and advise those who have been outside the country in heavily influenced areas to be very clear on returning to campus.

Learning From others

Universities and colleges who have not yet adopted campus improvements to respond to the latest coronavirus should be inspired by those that have taken action. They must analyze the steps that other educators have already taken to understand what has worked, what has not worked, and how they are confronted with the challenges. With the outbreak of illness likely to get worse, management will take timely steps in preparation for possible disruptions, to secure their campus and students.

In the past, higher education has withstood challenging economic times and should be able to survive them again. In the modern era, universities and colleges are now more than ever in a great role to provide students with convenient access to pursue their studies online.