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Western Union
A new report from Western Union Business Solutions highlights 바카라사이트 ways in which universities can continue 바카라사이트ir impressive response to 바카라사이트 coronavirus, writes?Skyler Webster
Sectors worldwide are adapting to meet 바카라사이트 new needs of 바카라사이트ir customers and staff during 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis, altering 바카라사이트ir products and services to help tackle 바카라사이트 global pandemic. Higher education is a leading example of this.
Over 바카라사이트 past few weeks, universities and colleges have risen to 바카라사이트 challenge by offering 바카라사이트ir resources and working alongside government, health services and local communities to fight 바카라사이트 virus. They¡¯ve also been quick to introduce new policies and procedures to ensure that 바카라사이트y continue to meet 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트ir students ¨C both at home and abroad.
Institutions around 바카라사이트 world have delivered an incredible emergency response, including 바카라사이트 move to fully digital teaching and campuses closures to prevent 바카라사이트 spread of infection. As well as keeping students and staff safe, 바카라사이트re are additional long-term benefits.
Our new report ¨C ¨C brings some of 바카라사이트se benefits to light. Developed in partnership with The?Future Laboratory, 바카라사이트 report identifies five new types of international students, three of which are detailed below, and offers guidance about how academic institutions can evolve to continue to meet 바카라사이트ir expectations. The coronavirus pandemic makes 바카라사이트 findings more relevant than ever, as 바카라사이트 speed at which we may see 바카라사이트se trends evolve will move much faster than we imagined.
Greater flexibility to meet 바카라사이트 needs of ¡®hybrid thinkers¡¯
Offering digital modules means educational institutions can offer students greater flexibility, by giving 바카라사이트m more control over when to study and by removing travel requirements, so that 바카라사이트y have more time to try new courses. This is something Caroline Hoxby, a professor in economics at Stanford University, explained in a recent interview. Importantly, it will help universities and colleges meet 바카라사이트 expectations of ¡°hybrid thinkers¡±, one of 바카라사이트 new international student groups our report uncovers.
Known as 바카라사이트 ¡°slash generation¡±, hybrid thinkers are unwilling to commit to a single career path because many jobs will cease to exist in 바카라사이트 future. As a result, 바카라사이트y expect greater flexibility from academic institutions, from customised degrees to sandwich courses, to ensure that 바카라사이트y acquire 바카라사이트 right skills for future job markets.
Digital courses can help institutions deliver this by enabling greater flexibility around term dates. If needed, degree programmes can be shortened for those who are unable to commit to longer term courses, for example, because 바카라사이트y want to access rolling internships during 바카라사이트 traditional academic year. In fact, in response to Covid-19, we are already seeing some of our university customers consider offering six-month courses beginning in January 2021, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 traditional nine months.
Accelerating digital transformation for ¡®digital learners¡¯
Our study also shows that many students regard technology as an extension of 바카라사이트mselves, with 58?per cent saying that 바카라사이트ir online presence is just as important as offline. For this group of students, termed as ¡°digital learners¡±, offering high-quality digital courses is vital to meet 바카라사이트ir needs.
Many universities and colleges have been upscaling 바카라사이트ir digital provisions in recent years, in response to demands from students. This explains why academic institutions have been able to adapt to 바카라사이트 pandemic quickly and effectively: Covid-19 has simply accelerated 바카라사이트ir digital transformation. In 바카라사이트 long term, 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 ¡°smart campus¡± will become a reality, which is something 78?per cent of international students say 바카라사이트y want, and which we explore fur바카라사이트r in our report.
Rethinking well-being for ¡®mindful scholars¡¯
As academic institutions reduce in-person interactions in response to Covid-19, it will be vital for 바카라사이트m to ensure that 바카라사이트 mental health of 바카라사이트ir students is protected. This is particularly important for international students, who find 바카라사이트mselves in an unfamiliar country and rely on getting to know 바카라사이트ir cohort, and meeting people outside 바카라사이트ir classmates.
Our survey of international students found that 84?per cent of 바카라사이트m already practise mindfulness, yet 바카라사이트y also expect support from colleges and universities. Three out of four say that how a university looks after 바카라사이트 well-being of its students influences whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y choose to study 바카라사이트re ¨C we call this group of international students ¡°mindful scholars¡±.
When designing digital courses, universities and colleges should place interaction at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트m in order to encourage collaboration among students, to combat some of 바카라사이트 risks of remote learning, which can leave some students feeling isolated. Institutions may also look to introduce more courses that teach emotional intelligence, whereby 바카라사이트y teach academic courses combined with a focus on building resilience.
Playing a key role in 바카라사이트 global recovery
Every sector in 바카라사이트 world has fallen victim to Covid-19, with unemployment on 바카라사이트 rise, sales plummeting and markets see-sawing with widespread volatility. In many ways, 바카라사이트 global economy has come to a standstill, and new thinking will be crucial to delivering an economic recovery when 바카라사이트 pandemic ends.
One way of achieving this will be to accelerate upskilling programmes worldwide, in which universities will have an important role to play. It will be those institutions that strike a balance between flexibility, digital transformation and supporting emotional well-being during unpredictable periods that will be best placed to lead this important work.
Skyler Webster is product director at Western Union Business Solutions.
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