Sustaining Higher Education Quality During COVID-19 Pandemic and Recovery at UCLAN

How to sustain the quality of higher education in an environment where a vaccine has yet to be found and economies are still reeling?

As the world begins its slow pivot from managing the COVID-19 crisis to recovery and the reopening of economies, it’s clear that the lockdown has had a profound impact on how students learn. The period of contagion, self-isolation, and economic uncertainty will change the way the higher education system works, in some cases for years to come. These rapid shifts have important implications for any higher education provider (Drayton and Waltman, IFS, 2020) including UCLAN. Because many of the longer-term changes are still being formed, universities have an opportunity, if they act now, to help shape the next normal.

Furthermore, as we stand in the brink of a technological revolution which will fundamentally change the way we live and work (World Economic Forum, 2019), you have been asked to design a  practical framework to think about what needs to do to continue or restart)operations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to generate a safe environment for both staff and students (Department of Education, UK,2020) and the wider community of Preston. In nutshell, you have been tasked to establish an innovation strategy/framework and a show a route map on the following areas:

Problem Statements

Examine the scope of future Higher Education?

How we manage to deliver a high-quality student? experience

How to redesign Marketing/ strategies specifically for international students?

Significance of Technology

Dissemination of knowledge and Course delivery/platforms

Labour Market concerns

Scope of future Higher Education?

COVID-19 has had a profound effect across all business sectors and higher education is not an exception.  According to S Clarke(2019),  the youngsters who leave higher education amid recession and downturns have scarring impacts. According to this report, ‘the crisis cohort’ who entered the world of work amid the financial crisis continued to face higher unemployment, lower pay and worse job prospects up to a decade later, compared to other young people entering work before or after the downturn(S Clarke, 2019Growing Pains, Nuffield foundation). In this regard, you are asked to frame how the UCLan university can set out the case for change and the outcomes and benefits to be delivered. This must demonstrate how the plan will deliver the wider objectives that guide the local Preston community.

How we manage to deliver a high-quality student? experience

Online or a blended education system became ubiquitous as a result of the COVID-19  among the universities. This will have a direct impact on universities as well as on students. The lectures are contending with the need to develop new online learning resources for teaching increased domestic responsibilities associated with closures of schools and child-care facilities, and challenges such as decreased access to laboratory space, problems procuring equipment etc. (The Lancet, p.583). You are asked to design a framework which ensures the high-quality student experience during this crisis period and explore how it would impact the local business in Preston.

How to redesign Marketing/ strategies specifically for international students?

One can assume that the student enrolment during this and post-pandemic period. However, according to the Times Higher education report (2020), many might more education to reskill to protect themselves against recession chill winds. You are assigned to redesign the marketing strategies specifically for international students.

Significance of Technology

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the adoption of digital technology in higher education and changes to the way services are delivered at an incredible pace. You are assigned to examine the role of technology in reshaping the learning experience and explore how such movment will impcat the local business in Preston.

Dissemination of knowledge and Course delivery/platforms

The pandemic disruption has persuaded the university to reconsider and redesign its dissemination of knowledge including research activities and its relationship with business communities. Specifically, .how the universities can work closely with small and medium scale local business to generate ideas, reshape and contribute to economic growth. Formulate a redesigned model that helps UCLAn to reshape its relationship with primary stakeholders.

Labour Market concerns

There is a wide extent of literature and growing evidence suggest that leaving education amid a recession has long-lasting effects. This is not only because of fewer jobs available as a result of business closures, but also the quality,  staff development and salary of the available jobs. You asked to explore the labour market concerns of both students in amid of crisis and make recommendations on how Uclan can minimise the concerns and adversities.