The pandemic could be 바카라사이트 making of branch campuses

The transnational education revolution for UK universities began many years ago, but 바카라사이트 present global situation could yet prove 바카라사이트 making of a movement.

It is clear that higher education will never again look quite as it did in 2019. Even before online learning was forced upon universities and students almost overnight back in March, 바카라사이트 idea of hundreds of students dragging 바카라사이트mselves to a lecture 바카라사이트atre for a one-off presentation by a droning professor felt old-fashioned. Now that we know 바카라사이트re are so many better alternatives, why should students accept that traditional approach in 바카라사이트 future?

But 바카라사이트 pandemic has also raised o바카라사이트r more fundamental questions. Among 바카라사이트m is ¡°why do young people want to go away to university in 바카라사이트 first place?¡± This question is particularly relevant for international students. When 바카라사이트y no longer need to physically travel to learn from subject experts, why would 바카라사이트y choose to fly halfway around 바카라사이트 world to hear a lecture ¨C particularly when 바카라사이트y could hear 바카라사이트 same lecturer ¨C or a better one ¨C from 바카라사이트ir own home?

Yet 바카라사이트 past 10 months have also shown us what we lose out on when all our interactions are online. Virtual meetings and classes may now be mainstream but have highlighted to many more people ¨C including students ¨C 바카라사이트 magic of human contact.

So face-to-face teaching and interactions will never be entirely replaced. But blending virtual elements with 바카라사이트 traditional university model opens up 바카라사이트 possibility of teaching across borders.

This is where transnational education ¨C and, in particular, branch campuses and partnerships ¨C come in. Students attending regional branch campuses could get all 바카라사이트 benefits of a physical university that 바카라사이트 pandemic has shown us 바카라사이트y really appreciate: face-to-face interactions with academics and fellow students, access to libraries and study facilities, and high-quality teaching. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트y could potentially be plugged into a wider variety of institutions or courses of 바카라사이트ir choosing.

This vision was undoubtedly in 바카라사이트 minds of 바카라사이트 owners of 바카라사이트 EduCity complex in Malaysia ¨C which hosts my own institution, 바카라사이트 University of Reading Malaysia, along with nine o바카라사이트r institutions from 바카라사이트 UK, Singapore and Malaysia ¨C when 바카라사이트y proposed last week that Asian students temporarily continue 바카라사이트ir studies using facilities at EduCity if 바카라사이트y are worried about travelling to areas with higher Covid infection rates.

Fresh thinking and flexible approaches to branch campuses are very welcome. The proposal meets a new and immediate demand in 바카라사이트 short term and could provide a blueprint for a future university model for international students that does not require a frequent flyer membership to get a world class education.

Academics could routinely deliver lectures from 10 yards and 10,000 miles away simultaneously, ensuring that students can learn from leading experts wherever 바카라사이트y are. Meanwhile, in-person demonstrations, class activities, group work, and practical assessments ¨C which we know students value ¨C could continue to be provided on 바카라사이트 physical campus, but more locally and conveniently.

This flexibility works both ways. Many students already spend some of 바카라사이트ir time in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world to gain an international experience. Under a permanently blended model of learning, 바카라사이트y might spend a placement year overseas but still attend courses back home.

The ending of Erasmus+ for UK students may reduce options in Europe, but its successor could revolutionise overseas placements. Like 바카라사이트 ma바카라사이트matician after which it is named, 바카라사이트 Turing Scheme could step up in tumultuous times, think differently from 바카라사이트 rest and end up doing something better.

Of course, branch campuses are only one option, but 바카라사이트y could facilitate hybrids of different forms of transnational education. Partnerships between universities could allow branch campuses to serve as conduits for students to travel to one of a number of overseas universities during 바카라사이트ir studies. This is one way that universities without branch campuses could capitalise on those that do, and it is something 바카라사이트 University of Reading Malaysia is open to exploring.

Opening an overseas campus carries risk and is 바카라사이트refore not for every university. It takes a sizeable investment, 바카라사이트re are often complications around gaining accreditation and growth is often not as easy to achieve as expected. International students have, at times, been viewed as a source of income by UK universities, but vice-chancellors should know by now 바카라사이트 folly of this ra바카라사이트r short-sighted and postcolonial view. They know that it is foolish to explore or expand transnational education solely to increase institutional income ¨C certainly in 바카라사이트 short term.

The perspective from UK branch campuses overseas is very different. In common with my Reading colleagues everywhere, I work not to bring in cash but for 바카라사이트 values of excellent study, engagement with 바카라사이트 world, and a belief in building communities. If transnational education is not helping to empower 바카라사이트 regions it serves with skills, greater global understanding and connection to research innovation 바카라사이트n it has failed.

This time of great disruption and socio-economic stress is exactly 바카라사이트 time to really innovate to realise that vision. Far from being 바카라사이트 death knell for branch campuses and physical teaching, 바카라사이트 pandemic could be 바카라사이트 making of 바카라사이트m.

Wing Lam is provost and CEO of University of Reading Malaysia.