Virtual university
Possibilities and challenges
IN the past two decades, the world has been constantly disrupted by emerging technologies. Not a part of our life remains untouched by technology be it our profession, business or academics.
This interference of technology with our existing world got new dimensions when the world was hit severely by COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The countrywide lockdowns, curfews and social distancing norms throughout the world made us resort to the methods which were feasible even during lockdowns.
Even though the concept of work from home (WFH) wasn’t new, it took a whole new form in 2020. The homes were turned into offices and the dinner tables transformed into work spaces.
It took people only a minute to reach the office from their room and things started moving forward. The WFH concept has its own set of challenges, but the situation in which the world was thrown into, it looked like the only saving grace for various businesses, including academics.
A year has passed on since the majority of the countries were put under lockdown; several of them have witnessed the second wave and are cautiously preparing for the third wave.
And during this preparation one major question that has been haunting all policy makers is: How are we going to deal with colleges and education especially when it seems that this pandemic is going to stay here for a while?
The most probable answer to this looks like the use of educational technology. Microsoft teams, Zoom, Skype, Google Hangout and other apps have enabled us to communicate and impart knowledge to each other and these are the best available options in the present context. The universities in Fiji have been clinging to these solutions as well, but the time has arrived to look at these solutions as more of a long term solution rather.
On the same lines, the question we need to contemplate as a long term goal is, “Can Fiji comes up with the concept of a virtual university, thereby providing the learners a whole new experience to learn and graduate?” Even the idea of having a virtual university in the country sounds so exhilarating.
Have you ever considered the idea of taking a class whenever you want to because of pre-recorded sessions, asking the questions to the teachers anyone you want and receiving answers instantly because your professor is logged on at the same time?
Have you considered the idea of attending multiple questions from the question bank that your professor has created online?
Have you ever considered the financial relief you can enjoy just because you don’t have to travel/stay in a hostel?
A virtual university can very well be a possibility in the context of Fiji. The technological advancements can be assimilated with the idea of providing the learners a blended learning experience.
The virtual classes that have been taken since last year can be treated as a pilot project and concentrated brainstorming can help us provide the students a seamless learning experience. When you closely examine the shifting of physical classes to online classes, you will find that there are many merits associated with it.
Two of the major advantages that I could explore were:
1. The students will save their time since they don’t have to travel to campuses every now and then. This point can be the icebreaker in the cases where the working population wants to join any program.
2. There can be no denying the fact that the virtual university can be a real cost effective method for the people of Fiji. The students will save their money travelling to and from, which works hugely in favor of the students who had to travel from Ba or Nadi to Lautoka for their classes. In fact, the cost effectiveness is not only limited to the learners, it also benefits the institute as well, thereby reducing the cost of infrastructure and resources.
While the possibilities of having a virtual university seem very much feasible, there are a set of challenges that need to be addressed before anything else. The very first challenge that we will need to sort out will be the pedagogical approach. The administration/leadership/faculties will have to contemplate on the pedagogies for each subject they are going to teach.
To be honest, while the students have faced challenges to shift face-to-face to virtual classes, the faculties have faced even more difficulties in shifting the gears and managing classes of 40, 50, even 60 students online. And therefore in order to manage the students in virtual mode, the teachers will have to develop engaging pedagogies that appear to the virtual class, giving them a chance to engage themselves in the proceedings. One of the major aspects that our universities provide in the programs is that of Practicum. Practicum is an experience that takes the students to the real scenario.
Practicum is a phase where the learners are put into a situation where they actually have to deal with real time problems and people, which makes them learn the holistic nature of the job they are going to do after they complete the program.
Considering the value of practicum in evolving the skills of the learners, it becomes pertinent to develop a practicum plan for virtual learners who are equally engaging and intensive.
Another big challenge that will come along the way of virtual university would be the assessment schemes. The assessment schemes need to be deeply scrutinised to make sure that the learners are checked in each possible way. The schemes have to be exhaustive and need to navigate each aspect to the coursework.
Unless the assessment schemes are efficiently designed, the pedagogies will make no sense since the results will not correlate to the effectiveness of the pedagogies. The assessment must check the proposed learning outcomes of the coursework. Only then the program can be considered beneficial.
The next challenge which the learners will face in the virtual scenario will be the sense of belongingness. As a learner, not only is it important to create a learning environment, it is also important to create a sense of community among peers.
A learner’s growth is always evaluated holistically and the social value they create in the society. The onus of this issue again lies on pedagogies and evaluation schemes.
Along with the learning of the coursework, the faculties will also have to visualise the possible scenarios where the learners can get together to impart knowledge as well as create human values.
The idea or notion of a virtual university will always be incomplete without active support of the Government. To make sure that the idea thrives and is translated from paper to ground reality, the Government will have to look into the possible collaboration of faculties, administration and also internet service providers.
Once the government comes up in support of this plan, the ball will be set rolling and the learning opportunities in Fiji will increase manifolds.
■ DR AKASH D DUBEY was a assistant professor in the Department of CS/IT, CEST at FNU before moving back to India. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are solely the author’s and not necessarily the views of the author’s employer or the The Fiji Times.