Taiwan MOE Personnel Participate in Times Higher Education Online Forum Discussing Implications of Coronavirus for Universities
On May 7, 2020, Times Higher Education (THE) held an online webcast No Going Back? UK Higher Education Post-pandemic to discuss how higher education in the UK has been affected by the Covid-19 global crisis.
Nearly two thousand people registered to participate in the virtual seminar, including Dr. Nicole Yen-Yi Lee, Director of the Education Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, and Ms. Canny Yi-Ken Liao, the Assistant Director.
The discussion was chaired by Sara Custer, digital editor at Times Higher Education, with four panelists: Emma Hardy, MP, Shadow Minister for Further Education and Universities; Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow and Chair of the Russell Group; Professor Liz Barnes, Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University; and Rachel Hewitt, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Higher Education Policy Institute.
The panelists sought to address the key issues facing the higher education sector in the UK as a result of the pandemic, as well as reflecting upon the lessons that could be learned and what the future might hold. Registered participants were encouraged to submit questions electronically.
The discussion principally covered practical and financial effects of the pandemic on the sector. The pandemic has triggered a significant decline in the number of international students coming to study in the UK. This has reduced universities’ income at the same time as they are facing huge additional costs. Universities could consider reducing fees, increasing opportunities for international students, and developing more partnerships with overseas institutions. But universities must offer value for money.
The universities have a fundamental role educating and training people with the valuable skills that could aid national recovery, and how higher education could contribute to the economic rebuilding of the country was discussed.
The effect on students and how to help students whose programs have been disrupted was another major topic. Providing online courses presents challenges, especially for students with limited access to computers and Wi-Fi.
Maintaining social distancing and other safety measures will continue to be a major priority for universities throughout the UK, as they seek practical ways to safeguard public health and at the same time provide positive learning experiences.
You can hear the webcast online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8q93eiZcYA