UNAIR sponsors AppliedHE webinar on impact of Covid-19 to global higher education

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UNAIR sponsors AppliedHE webinar on impact of Covid-19 to global higher education. (Photo: Youtube AppliedHE)

UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga continues to improve its role in global community, to contribute through education, research and service to wider society. One of its efforts to improve its global recognition is through a partnership with international institution like AppliedHE Pte Ltd, an organization that provides research and strategic communication services for the graduate recruitment and higher education sectors. UNAIR sponsored an international webinar event by AppliedHE, Squaring the Circle Debate with a topic: “The Covid-19 Pandemic Changes Everything in Global Higher Education.” City University of Hongkong was also involved as Co-Host.

The webinar was in form of a debate session moderated by Dr Kevin Downing from Institutional Research Office, City University of Hong Kong. The motion of the debate was “The Covid-19 Pandemic Changes Everything in Global Higher Education”.

The webinar was in form of a debate session moderated by Dr Kevin Downing from Institutional Research Office, City University of Hong Kong. The motion of the debate was “The Covid-19 Pandemic Changes Everything in Global Higher Education”.

The webinar is open for academic community and general public.There are two speakers from the proposers and opposers in the debate held last night at 8 o’clock. The proposers were Prof Nigel Healey, Professor of International Higher Education and Associate Vice-President (Global Engagement) from University of Limerick, Ireland and Professor Sally Chan, Pro Vice-Chancellor University of Newcastle, Singapura. While the opposers were Ms Charlene Allen from The IC Global Foundation, UK and Mrs Winnie Eley, honorary members of Association of British Chinese Professors, UK.

The event was opened by Mandy Mok, founder and CEO of AppliedHE, by introducing her organization which is the “new kid on the block”. The event was the inaugural debate session of AppliedHE and Mandy expressed her gratitude to City University of Hong Kong and Universitas Airlangga who co-hosted and sponsored the webinar.

Dr. Kevin Downing, explained to the panelists how the debate was held and gave them opportunities to make their case in certain order. Before the debate, there was a poll on whether the attendees agree or disagree with the motion: The Covid-19 Pandemic Changes Everything in Global Higher Education The poll result showed 81% agreed and 19% disagreed.

Professor Sally Chan as the first proposer explained the impact of Covid-19 on the economic and financial aspects and how online education is on the rise.

“In the short term, this is a first a solution. However, after the academics and students use the technology, there’s a realization that online stability is absoluty critical for the sustainment of education. Some of the partnerships developed between the universities and online education companies will continue beyond the pandemic,” explained Sally.

Charlene Allen did not agree with the motion because when we start to understand more about the pandemic, the vaccine is found and various restrictions are lifted, most importantly the flight restriction that human nature will take over and life would refer back to as it was.

“It will still go back to the fundamental education because it’s not changing everything, but it accelerates what was, is already happening, would’ve happen, and would continue to happen all be it at a slow phase,” stated Charlene.

Prof Nigel Healey argued that the scale of this crisis completely unprecedented. Other crises from Avian flu or SARS outbreak for example did not shocks the global community as the mobility in higher education continue to grow. The scale of impact of Covid-19, in his opinion, is completely different scale.

“It’s impacted every country and every region virtually simultaneously, with a lag of literally just a few weeks. The second is, it’s delivered a very very negative supply side shocks that made universities in Australia, UK and another countries much less attractive to study in this nation because of the way the crisis is handled and the fear of the unkown. And at the same time, it’s delivered a huge economic shock, it’s pushing the world into global recession,” said Nigel.

Winnie Eley emphasized that COVID 19 pandemic does not change everything in global higher education. She also elaborated who are in global higher education are people. Not just any people but those who earn a place to study, work, graduate, lead, manage, and govern. She said that teaching is a privilege and will always be the core of education.

“Teaching, to enhance student learning is a core activity in global education. A survey of 10 out of 10 institutions before I come in this debate choose that teaching alone as a working title is still widely used in university and new financial processes,” stated Winnie.

In the end of the debate, there was another poll with the same question and the result was different from the first one before the debate. From 87 attendees, 56% agreed that Covid-19 changes everything in global higher education and 44% did not agree. (*)

Author: Andi Pramono

Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh

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