Top Experts Discuss COVID-19 Impact & Challenges on Higher Education Sector

The International School of Economics at TSU (ISET) and ISET Policy Institute held the second in a series of international Policy Panels, this titled ‘Re-imagining Higher Education Post-pandemic’.

The online panel focused on the impacts of COVID-19 on the higher education sector globally, bringing together top expert views on the longer-term prospects and challenges for universities and students.

The participants of discussion were: Dr. Mikheil Chkhenkeli, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia; Dr. Karl Dittrich, President of European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education; Dr. Sijbolt Noorda, President of Magna Charta Observatory, Bologna and Academic Cooperation Association, Brussels; Dr. George Sharvashidze, Principal of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University; and Dr. Sebastian Molineus, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus.

The event was moderated by Dr. Tamar Sulukhia, Director of ISET and the ISET Policy Institute.

The participant top experts shared their expertise and views on how financial, economic and demographic pressures impact demand, enrollment and mobility in higher education, how the post-pandemic socio-economic outlook will reflect on funding, institutional traditions, academic programs and sustainability of colleges and universities, and if higher education be able to re-invent itself and push the frontier forward during post-pandemic stage.

The benefits and superiorities of online learning and Georgia’s achievements in this direction were also emphasized, with the panelists unanimously agreeing that even during post-pandemic period, certain electronic features, resources and tools of distance learning should be maintained and integrated with direct teaching method.

Minister Chkhenkeli noted that nowadays, the situation is very difficult in every country; however, the process of educating the young generation should continue unhindered.

“There were a lot of joint efforts, as a result of which we are able to cope with the current challenges. Georgia fruitfully established a distance learning system, which was praised by Microsoft, who noted that we had developed distance education very quickly and effectively. And we are very proud of that,” he stressed.

Speaking of current challenges in the field of education during the pandemic, the Minister thanked teachers and professors, calling them “heroes,” and emphasized the great contribution and financial and moral assistance of international partners, including the World Bank and its regional director Dr. Sebastian Molineus.

“Their financial and moral support is very important for us,” Chkhenkeli noted.

He further noted that systematically, the practice of online learning was quite new for Georgia and there were few online learning platforms available; however, despite this fact, universities were quick to develop such methods and platforms.

“The quality is very high, for which we are very thankful to representatives of our education sector,” he said.

The Minister pointed out that the main challenge of online learning was that not all students have access to internet, and, accordingly, the Georgian Public Broadcaster established the TV School, giving pupils televised lessons on the Public Broadcaster, a success from the first program which was broadcast on 30 March.

Chkhenkeli concluded that even when students go back to school, electronic resources should be kept as extra measures in addition to general learning. “It brings the world closer,” he said.

Dr. Karl Dittrich stressed the importance of culture and education during the pandemic, especially of online learning. He praised Georgia’s effort to establish the TV School, calling it “a great achievement,” and the country’s progress in this field in general. In his words, it is a “new wave of learning and getting educated.”

Dr. Sijbolt Noorda said while participating in the online discussion that a special educational workshop was to take place in Tbilisi, postponed until November due to the pandemic.

“We are very optimistic we can meet in Tbilisi in November, and when it happens, we will discuss and share our experience on what we’ve learnt from this crisis so far, and how to continue our activities in the post-crisis period,” he said.

Dr. George Sharvashidze, Principal of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State, claimed that the creation of online courses was a big challenge for universities. There was also a challenge of cyber security.

“We’re using various platforms to educate our youth, such as Zoom, Teams, etc. We have a lot of resources, online courses for students and professors. During the pandemic, Tbilisi State University made thousands of electronic books available for students, and other universities also did the same. The challenge for foreign students is also an issue we hope soon to solve,” he said, adding that the TSU administration is also planning to organize summer schools for students for better results.

“I’m very thankful to our professors and international partners for their support. Open science is a very important issue and I hope that we will have more opportunities in this direction in the near future,” he concluded.

Dr. Sebastian Molineus emphasized the challenge of students’ mobility during the pandemic and the importance of providing social packages for students and vulnerable groups.

He discussed educational sector problems and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and noted that governments are now heavily investing in responses to it, which will result in a shrinkage in budgets in the future.

“It will be critical for higher educational institutions, so collaboration and funding in this direction is especially important,” he stressed.

By Ana Dumbadze

Image source: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/Z_WEI