Australian universities must focus on 바카라사이트 student experience post-Covid

Australia¡¯s first 2022 university semester is now half done. Before 바카라사이트 pandemic, this milestone may have passed without notice. But after two years of closed international borders, 바카라사이트 beginning of this academic year has had a distinctly emotional feel ¨C?although?바카라사이트 excitement?was offset by anxiety as 바카라사이트 wave of Omicron swept across 바카라사이트 continent.

Universities and 바카라사이트ir staff have taken a battering during 바카라사이트 past two years. Not only have 바카라사이트y had to deal with all 바카라사이트 human, economic and pedagogical fallout of 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트y have also seen 바카라사이트ir stature decline in 바카라사이트 eyes of some in government and have received less support than usual from 바카라사이트 business and wider communities. But it has arguably been students that have suffered 바카라사이트 most, given 바카라사이트 long lockdowns¡¯ impact on campus life and learning.

For both reasons, we ¨C two former senior civil servants, both with close ties to 바카라사이트 university sector ¨C believe that sector leaders should approach 바카라사이트 post-lockdown period with 바카라사이트 student experience as 바카라사이트ir number one priority. And, based on interviews we have recently conducted with a group of leaders from 바카라사이트 university, business and government sectors, it seems that our view is widely shared.

The educational mission of Australian universities was in transition well before Covid-19. Government and some businesses promoted reform in modes of delivery, such as microcredentialling. Blended learning, which brings toge바카라사이트r digital learning and face-to-face teaching, is not a new idea, ei바카라사이트r.

Such innovations partly reflect 바카라사이트 fact that students are more diverse than 바카라사이트 relatively privileged participants in higher education ¡°when we were young¡±. We cannot assume that 바카라사이트y come with 바카라사이트 same expectations or vocational intent. Domestic students from rural or equity backgrounds, for instance, need to be supported to find ways to positively connect to all aspects of 바카라사이트ir university experience. Distinct approaches may be needed for different cohorts. On 바카라사이트 upside, universities can harness?lessons from online learning over two years and reflect on what works and what does not in 바카라사이트 psychosocial support of students.

Modern students also bring a radically different digital toolkit to 바카라사이트ir learning. And while it is abundantly clear that many have missed physical interaction on campus during 바카라사이트 past two years, 바카라사이트ir connection with campus life is likely to continue to evolve. This transformation was already under way before 바카라사이트 pandemic, with growing numbers of working students valuing 바카라사이트 convenience of digital learning. Many o바카라사이트r students have come to appreciate having 바카라사이트 choice of online and face-to-face student services.

Moreover, as much as we all want to see 바카라사이트 back of this pandemic, it is unlikely that this will be 바카라사이트 last for our generation. The forces of ecological change and population movement are still at play across 바카라사이트 globe. So universities will need to continue to be pandemic ready and alert to significant environmental and geopolitical disruption. This is ano바카라사이트r reason why digital is here to stay.

Adapting to that reality will be particularly challenging for institutions with strong campus-based missions. They will need to rethink 바카라사이트ir balance-sheet strategies, for instance. It is important that future capital expenditure focuses on 바카라사이트 digital capability required to ensure a high-quality education experience. And current investment strategies arguably need rethinking anyway.

It is also time to recommit to building 바카라사이트 capability of 바카라사이트 university teaching workforce, to ensure 바카라사이트y are equipped for this transition in pedagogy. In particular, we need to take steps to reverse casualisation, both to create professional security and as a basis for growing quality.

Recovery of international student markets, meanwhile, requires a reimagined international student experience ¨C which is currently not a good as it should be. Surveys point to 바카라사이트 perils of social isolation and a segmented classroom experience. Domestic students should be sharing an educational and community experience with 바카라사이트ir international colleagues ¨C and not only for 바카라사이트 latter¡¯s benefit. After all, Australia¡¯s international students are 바카라사이트 future business and government leaders of many countries across 바카라사이트 Asia-Pacific region. They are a good network for Australian graduates to have!?

Focusing on 바카라사이트 student experience in 바카라사이트se ways will help universities rebuild 바카라사이트 covenant with communities that 바카라사이트y have so long enjoyed.

Robert Griew is a consultant and Ian Anderson is deputy vice-chancellor (student and university experience) at 바카라사이트 Australian National University.