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THE CHALLENGES
The QS survey also asked university
representatives what their biggest
challenges had been so far. Many
universities reported that they were
“struggling to navigate this crisis while
maintaining consistent course delivery,
ensuring strong student recruitment
numbers, and providing clear
communication to staff and students”.
One university representative said their
biggest challenge was: “Keeping our current
students, faculty and staff safe and healthy
while also trying to keep normal operations
running. We are also very concerned about
enrolment for summer and fall.”
Another responded: “Our biggest
challenge was how to move from
traditional education to e-learning and
how to overcome the problem of practical
courses and training.”
Significant dips in student numbers
and funding shortages were common
challenges.
“The impact on student numbers has
been significant, which means that there’s
pressure to reallocate funding to address
the shortages that have arisen,” one
respondent said.
“There are also communication and
distance study options issues that are
creating ongoing problems as we iron out
the details of who needs what information
or which resources.”
Another university representative
responded: “Our biggest challenges are
keeping students and staff safe and well;
avoiding panic; maintaining educational
progress with innovative educational
solutions, like going online; the financial
hit of fewer students and expenditures
on coronavirus-related necessities; and
keeping our international students coming.”
TACTICS UNIVERSITIES ARE USING
TO DEAL WITH THE DISRUPTION
In trying to adapt to the new normal, QS
surveyed university respondents to find
out what measures they have employed.
Fifty per cent reported they had switched
some of their scheduled courses online,
while 19 per cent deferred the start
date for some of their courses until the
next semester.
Seventeen per cent of respondents
reported their universities had changed
their application deadlines for the next
intake of students.
Some universities surveyed (13 per cent)
had decided to defer some of their 2020
offers to 2021, and 8 per cent had begun
conducting their own English language
tests for admission. Two per cent of the
university respondents said their institution
had “condensed pre-session English
language courses into the main degree”.
The QS white paper also covers how
universities across the world are dealing
with online learning, how to attract
students in the current environment, and
which communication methods universities
are using the most. ■
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