Marching Ahead in Difficult Times: The Changing Face of Academia

Abstract

The world has witnessed massive changes in all fronts, and the education industry (academia) is no exception. Perhaps the maximum momentum of change, disruption, and agility have been witnessed in education sector at all levels: pre-primary to higher education. The ongoing pandemic caused by COVID-19 has catapulted difficult times towards truly creative, smart, economic, and workable solutions. The major one being opening up channels of online/virtual teaching-learning practices, hitherto unexplored. This led to various trails in adapting to technology for learning platforms, developing mental strength, and implementation of solutions by educators and learners with support of other stakeholders. New virtual platforms, LMS, self-learning platforms and massive open online courses, apps, sites, and formats have been pumped into the sector by tech, service providers, and innovators. It truly opened up new avenues for government, digital technology-based solution providers, and the consumers representing academia to beat the challenges and rise to successes. Many have been addressed, many more require attention that encompass equity, mental well-being, and bridging the digital divide. It’s the best time to be innovative, design solutions, and implement them via looking for alternative means. This shall continue to address issues of education sector to keep the wheel of teaching-learning on constant move and accept the hybrid mode in academia. It's worthy to note that cohesive, collective, creative, and collaborative efforts shall pave way for sustainable solutions that shall fulfill the needs of learning and provide both access and equity to the prime patrons.