Inzite Newsletter: October 2020
Hello from Inzite,
In recent months I’ve spent a lot of time thinking, reading and writing about the future of higher education – especially within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, I wanted to take the opportunity to share my thoughts with you and ask for your input.
Like so many areas of our lives, the Coronavirus is accelerating pre-existing structural changes. Let’s face it, the world of higher education was undergoing significant change long before this pandemic showed up. Digital transformation has been on the radar for years, but the crisis has brought the need for action into sharp focus.
The events of 2020 present significant challenges to universities and other centres of learning – and huge opportunities, too. Those who benefit will do so by confronting the uncomfortable truth that the world has changed irrevocably, and taking decisive action. With this in mind, institutions the world over are racing to formalise their approaches to video communication and how this will work seamlessly and at scale across their student-teacher populations.
Here at Inzite we’re fortunate to have already worked with a range of clients to facilitate digital transformation through video calling. So we’re well placed to help universities and colleges facilitate online interactions whilst still maintaining the personal touch.
I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the future of higher education in this brave new world we live in.
Best regards,
Darren Hill
CEO, Inzite
The latest from Inzite
Higher Education in a post-COVID world
It’s a cliché to say that COVID-19 is catalysing technological transformation. But clichés exist for a reason, and nowhere is this narrative more apparent than in the higher education sector.
Since lockdown measures were brought in, the way that universities and other higher education providers have gone about onboarding, teaching and supporting students has changed beyond recognition. Universities are adopting technology to ensure continuity in the face of massive disruption. The digitization of higher education has profound implications for student recruitment, tuition and pastoral care.
Higher Education interviews after COVID-19
It’s incredible to think about how many aspects of our lives have been changed by COVID-19. The way we work, shop, eat and socialise have been altered beyond recognition. We recently wrote about how higher education has been significantly impacted, too.
Interviews continue to be a vital element of the higher education application process. To avoid delays admitting students for the 2020/21 academic year, institutions have had to adapt and virtual interviews are now being widely used. Circumstances have forced us to learn the benefits, but it’s likely video interviews will remain after COVID-19 moves on. Here's why.
Addressing the student mental health crisis with technology
Transitioning from school to higher education is a pivotal moment in a young person’s journey, and education providers have a responsibility to support their students through this experience.
Much has been made in recent years about the mental health crisis that’s engulfed universities in Britain and beyond. Centres of learning need to act in order to protect their students – that is now a strategic priority for administrators everywhere. The question is how best to approach a challenge that is complex, large and fraught with risk?
The importance of tutoring
It’s unclear what the future of education will look like but an encouraging silver lining that has emerged from the COVID-19 crisis is how many institutions have been able to stay on top of the demands of their pupils and students by embracing technology.
Tutoring has played a key role in this effort at a group and one-on-one level. It’s likely that even as COVID-19 moves on, tutoring will remain a central part of our education system. Here’s why.
The future of the UK’s international student community
A growing number of students from all over the world are choosing to attend UK universities, which are recognised globally for their excellence.
With 1 in 5 UK students hailing from overseas, a crisis looms. The financial implications for UK universities are huge. But how worried should universities be, and what can they do to fight back?
The Best of the Rest
Coronavirus: universities' 'perfect storm' threatens future
Universities are facing a perfect storm which could lead to real problems, according to this article from the BBC. International student numbers will fall owing to coronavirus and Brexit, and domestic students will also be reluctant to attend during the pandemic. Surveys have suggested the number of international students taking up places in UK universities could drop by more than 50%, while other research claimed domestic enrolment could fall by 15%.
Colleges tap tech to calm students paying for remote classes
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages across the US, many schools are making permanent plans to conduct classes virtually. Colleges are rolling out new technology for a mostly online semester that begins in September. This is an interesting article that looks at the provision of tuition at major US universities like The University of Michigan, The University of Southern California and University of California at Berkeley via digital channels – and how students are responding.
Survey reveals COVID-19 pandemic-related mental health concerns among college students
The events of recent months have put significant stress on college students, many of whom are worried about increasing financial pressures caused by the pandemic and the lack of easily accessible mental healthcare. Those are two of the troubling findings of a survey of more than 18,000 college students on 14 campuses, published July 9 by the Healthy Minds Network, which found the rate of depression among college students has increased since the start of the pandemic.
How cybercriminals will continue to exploit the chaos in education
When the pandemic reared its head, lessons, lectures, seminars, and tutorials shifted online, almost overnight. In education, the transition to remote learning has been a huge challenge. This thought piece argues that stakes of ineffectiveness or failure are not simply financial, but risk “scarring the life chances of a generation of young people.”
How staring at our faces On Zoom is impacting our self-image
While there are silver linings to video meetings – from converging within the comfort of your own home to only having to dress from the waist up (perhaps eschewing pants altogether) – there’s one nuance of the experience we need to talk about: staring at our own faces, day in and day out. What exactly is it doing to our self-image?
Something to think about
"There is nothing permanent except change."
~ Heraclitus
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