Department of Public Administration

The Department of Public Administration, Panjab University Chandigarh in collaboration with PU-Institute of Social Science Education and Research (PU-ISSER) organized a special Webinar on “Administering Higher Education in a Post COVID-19 World” by Dr. Jaskiran Kaur Mathur Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Saint Francis College, Brooklyn, New York.

According to Dr. Mathur, the pandemic has battered education systems in developing and developed countries. Some 1.5 billion students — close to 90% of all primary, secondary and tertiary learners in the world — are no longer able to physically go to school. At the same time, the roles of colleges and universities are brought under question. Before the outbreak of the global coronavirus pandemic, the world was already dealing with learning crisis at all levels of education. Higher education is facing various challenges like financial crisis, mental health issues, diversity and inclusiveness. In the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, millions of students across the globe have been driven out of their university spaces, and professors are confined to their homes. Higher education stands disaggregated, and faculty and students are grappling with the sudden new norm of completely tech-mediated teaching and learning. The pandemic has both revealed and levelled the rural-urban divide. Higher education may face a learning revolution. The real challenge lies in institutions where they have been enrolled. While traditionally online education was seen as a threat, but today video conferencing apps like zoom, webex are the lifeline but at the same time lecturers are facing problems with technology, content and direct connect with the students. Dr. Mathur opined that the pandemic has struck our education system like a lightning bolt and shaken it to its core.

The talk was followed by enlightening discussion and question-answer session. Dr. Mathur actively answered a number of questions raised by the participants. Prof. Ronki Ram, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Panjab University raised a pertinent question of understanding changes required to meet the needs of online teaching with classroom teaching. Dr. Mathur emphasized that the teacher has to be more creative and at the same time, there is a need for in-person teaching, peer group learning and on campus engagement. Many more pertinent questions were raised like how far tech driven education will meet the social needs of the students and nature of pedagogy in the technology driven education? Prof. Mathur while answering these queries reflected that technology cannot drive out classroom teaching but it is serving the needs of the unprecedented crisis the world is facing.

The webinar was enthusiastically attended by many faculty members, students and research scholars of the Department of Public Administration, PU; PU-ISSER, PU; sister departments of the University, affiliated colleges in Chandigarh, and other social science disciplines.