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The COVID-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity to Foster the Sustainable Development of Teaching in Higher Education

Author

Listed:
  • Maria José Sá

    (CIPES—Centre for Research in Higher Education Policies, 4450-227 Matosinhos, Portugal)

  • Sandro Serpa

    (Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of the Azores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, the Azores, Portugal
    Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences—CICS.UAc/CICS.NOVA.UAc, University of the Azores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, the Azores, Portugal
    Interdisciplinary Centre for Childhood and Adolescence—NICA—UAc, University of the Azores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, the Azores, Portugal)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound consequences on the social, economic and cultural life at the global level. The educational dimension has also been affected in the schools’ regular functioning, with the temporary closure of educational institutions, as well as the impediment of face-to-face classes. This perspective paper aims to add to the knowledge already produced on this topic, by arguing that these challenging conditions can be a pivotal moment of opportunity for reshaping higher education, with the implementation, development and diffusion, among academics and students, of digital technologies. The paper also discusses the role of leadership in the transformation of organizational culture in higher education. The methodology used to carry out this study is qualitative, and the technique employed to analyze the data collected was content analysis. Research studies, in diverse formats, already published on the COVID-19 topic and its impacts were the elected data sources. The results of this document analysis allow us to conclude that there is the need to improve the digital sustainable development in teaching in higher education, which entails profound challenges that higher education institutions need to face and overcome if they want to be at the forefront of success in the international education market. This is where the authors seek to contribute, by offering insights on the challenges—but also the opportunities—that COVID-19 poses to higher education at a time when it needs to redefine its teaching methods, leadership models, and interaction channels, by going digital towards the improvement of the sustainable development of its teaching.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria José Sá & Sandro Serpa, 2020. "The COVID-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity to Foster the Sustainable Development of Teaching in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8525-:d:428729
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel A. Salas & Paulina Criollo & Angel D. Ramirez, 2021. "The Role of Higher Education Institutions in the Implementation of Circular Economy in Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-27, August.
    2. Cathaysa Martín-Blanco & Montserrat Zamorano & Carmen Lizárraga & Valentin Molina-Moreno, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals: Achievements and Expectations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-25, December.
    3. Francisco Gómez Gómez & Pilar Munuera Gómez, 2021. "Use of MOOCs in Health Care Training: A Descriptive-Exploratory Case Study in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Nadire Cavus & Abdullahi S. Sani & Yusuf Haruna & Abdulmalik A. Lawan, 2021. "Efficacy of Social Networking Sites for Sustainable Education in the Era of COVID-19: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Marta Cholewa-Wiktor, 2021. "The Concept of Sustainable Development in the Curriculum of the Medical Universities in Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 2), pages 72-86.
    6. Uma Warrier & Monoo John & Surendranath Warrier, 2021. "Leveraging Emotional Intelligence Competencies for Sustainable Development of Higher Education Institutions in the New Normal," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 10(1), pages 62-73, March.
    7. Marlen Gabriele Arnold & Alina Vogel & Martin Ulber, 2021. "Digitalizing Higher Education in Light of Sustainability and Rebound Effects—Surveys in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-29, November.
    8. Sandro Serpa & Carlos Miguel Ferreira, 2022. "Challenges of Post-COVID-19 for a Sustainably Developed Society," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-4, April.
    9. Mohammed Arshad Khan & Vivek & Mohammed Kamalun Nabi & Maysoon Khojah & Muhammad Tahir, 2020. "Students’ Perception towards E-Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic in India: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    10. Maja Batez, 2021. "ICT Skills of University Students from the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, February.
    11. Mikušová, Marie & Klabusayová, Naděžda & Meier, Vojtěch, 2023. "Evaluation of organisational culture dimensions and their change due to the pandemic," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    12. Carlos Miguel Ferreira & Sandro Serpa, 2020. "COVID-19 and Social Sciences," Societies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-3, December.
    13. Maria José Sá & Ana Isabel Santos & Sandro Serpa & Carlos Miguel Ferreira, 2021. "Digitainability—Digital Competences Post-COVID-19 for a Sustainable Society," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-22, August.
    14. Tabea Bork-Hüffer & Vanessa Kulcar & Ferdinand Brielmair & Andrea Markl & Daniel Marian Immer & Barbara Juen & Maria Hildegard Walter & Katja Kaufmann, 2021. "University Students’ Perception, Evaluation, and Spaces of Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria: What Can We Learn for Post-Pandemic Educational Futures?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-25, July.
    15. Hanadi Mohamed AbdelSalam & Maura A. E. Pilotti & Omar J. El-Moussa, 2021. "Sustainable Math Education of Female Students during a Pandemic: Online versus Face-to-Face Instruction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-12, November.
    16. Spada, Irene & Chiarello, Filippo & Barandoni, Simone & Ruggi, Gianluca & Martini, Antonella & Fantoni, Gualtiero, 2022. "Are universities ready to deliver digital skills and competences? A text mining-based case study of marketing courses in Italy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).

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