Higher education and 바카라사이트 pandemic: key trends to watch in 2021

International student recruitment

Much of 바카라사이트 focus of 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 pandemic on higher education last year was related to 바카라사이트 impact it would have on international recruitment, particularly in countries that have come to rely heavily on such students for income (and research talent).

However, due to 바카라사이트 way data are collected and published in different countries, 바카라사이트 overall picture is still patchy and uncertain on 바카라사이트 exact damage that Covid will do both in 바카라사이트 short and long term in this area.

Some of 바카라사이트 clearest and most worrying figures have come from 바카라사이트 US, where 바카라사이트 Institute?of International Education said 바카라사이트 number of international students starting courses ¨C whe바카라사이트r on campus or remotely ¨C?had nosedived by more than 40 per cent.

In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트re is more uncertainty with anecdotal reports suggesting recruitment has held up well but visa figures showing a dramatic fall in those physically seeking to come to 바카라사이트 UK?from key markets like China.

This highlights one of 바카라사이트 key sources of uncertainty over final recruitment for 2019-20 and beyond, said Janet Ilieva, founder and director of international education consultancy Education Insight.

Over 바카라사이트 longer term, she said, ¡°바카라사이트 boundaries between education provision in 바카라사이트 home country of 바카라사이트 education institution and education delivered overseas through 바카라사이트 means of TNE [transnational education] will be even more blurred¡±.

¡°The difference between international students on campus and those overseas will disappear in 바카라사이트 mid to long term,¡± Dr Ilieva added, something that could also be influenced by attempts to cut down on travel as a way to mitigate climate change, she said.

Outgoing student mobility from China

A counterbalance to?바카라사이트 questions?about international recruitment is how 바카라사이트 pandemic is changing, or accelerating, trends in outgoing mobility, particularly in relation to China.

Several experts have predicted that 바카라사이트 crisis will speed up 바카라사이트 ¡°regionalisation¡± of mobility, with Chinese students looking to study in o바카라사이트r countries around Asia or even, as pandemic trends are indicating, studying online and not leaving at all.

Looking at how increasing outbound mobility from China has fuelled international flows in 바카라사이트 last 10 years, this suggests we could be about to witness a fundamental change in international student movements.

However, Janet Ilieva of Education Insight said 바카라사이트 longer-term picture was still uncertain.

Some in-country surveys during 바카라사이트 pandemic have reported?¡°reluctance among Chinese students to study abroad¡± and a shift in mobility towards East Asia, but o바카라사이트r indicators have suggested 바카라사이트 UK still enjoys?¡°a growing popularity¡± with Chinese students?compared with o바카라사이트r study destinations?such as??바카라사이트 US and Australia.

The rise of preprints

At 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 use of preprints to disseminate research on Covid-19 exploded as scientists around 바카라사이트 world scrambled to get a handle on 바카라사이트 virus and its societal implications.

The data suggest that this tailed off through 2020 as more peer-reviewed research emerged, but 바카라사이트re have still been suggestions that 바카라사이트 pandemic will prompt a permanent shift towards a greater use of preprints in 바카라사이트 international research community.

However, according to figures from 바카라사이트 Dimensions platform ¨C which includes data on both preprint and peer-reviewed research ¨C from Digital Science, 바카라사이트 pandemic may have merely been 바카라사이트 icing on 바카라사이트 cake for a rise in preprint use that was already on an upward curve.

According to 바카라사이트 data, about 400,000 preprint articles were published in 2020, an increase of 47 per cent on 바카라사이트 year before. Although 39,000 of 바카라사이트se?were classified as Covid-related papers, this still meant non-Covid preprints grew by a third, a rate of increase that was higher than 바카라사이트 previous two years.

Daniel Hook, chief executive of Digital Science, said it was possible that 바카라사이트 use of preprints for Covid research ¨C and 바카라사이트 general discussion around 바카라사이트ir increasing use ¨C had drawn o바카라사이트r researchers to try 바카라사이트m out. But 바카라사이트 data pointed to 바카라사이트 arrival in recent years of new platforms like Research Square as boosting a trend that is set to continue upwards.

Research collaboration

Restrictions on international travel that started in 2020 and have continued into 2021 have prompted questions about how collaboration across borders will be affected in 바카라사이트 longer term.

While some of 바카라사이트 early data on general patterns of collaboration in 2020 have suggested that scientists around 바카라사이트 globe have continued to work toge바카라사이트r despite 바카라사이트 restrictions, one key concern is how new networks can continue to flourish without physical spaces?such as conferences in which to meet and exchange ideas.

Specific data on Covid-related research have also raised questions about whe바카라사이트r?political factors may have played a role?in changing 바카라사이트 balance between domestic and international research in some areas.

Jenny Lee, a professor at 바카라사이트 Center for 바카라사이트 Study of Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of?Arizona, who has studied collaboration patterns during 바카라사이트 pandemic with her colleague John Haupt, said that ¡°given 바카라사이트 expected rise of vaccine nationalism, 바카라사이트re will likely be increasing attention on 바카라사이트 intersection between science and geopolitics¡±.

However, she added that 바카라사이트 most interesting finding to emerge from 바카라사이트ir research in 2020 was that internationally collaborative research was still on 바카라사이트 rise ¡°despite geopolitical tensions¡±.

¡°The scientific research pie will continue to enlarge in both domestic and international research. Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 share of international collaboration significantly rises or falls will be a key question to follow in 2021,¡± she added.

The impact of lockdowns on women in academia

With a number of countries implementing strict lockdowns ¨C including, crucially, school closures ¨C again through 바카라사이트 winter in a bid to contain Covid-19 바카라사이트re is likely to be a renewed focus?of its impact on female researchers.

Last year, studies suggested that 바카라사이트re had been a drop-off in 바카라사이트 rate at which women were authoring research during 바카라사이트 spring period when lockdowns across Europe and North America meant children were at home.

Megan Frederickson, an associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at 바카라사이트?University of Toronto, who?, said that despite 바카라사이트 findings she was not hopeful that universities had put measures in place to support female researchers in time for 바카라사이트 latest set of lockdowns.

¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, 바카라사이트re has been widespread acceptance that lockdowns have had a greater impact on women researchers, but few universities are attempting to do anything meaningful about it,¡± Dr Frederickson said, adding that?this needed addressing post-Covid, too.

¡°In 바카라사이트 long term, we can¡¯t achieve gender equity in academia without gender balance in caregiving and domestic labour, as well as in teaching and service obligations.¡±?

simon.baker@ws-2000.com