Latin America seeing lower-than-expected Delta variant case load - for now laprensalatina.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from laprensalatina.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Source: Del Rosario University
When the coronavirus reached Colombia last March, Del Rosario University was fortunate to be able to react agilely to a challenging situation.
We focused on diverse initiatives that reflected the innovative spirit, the transformative character and the commitment of a determined, collaborative academic community willing to face changes.
One of the most important actions was undoubtedly the transition from a semester with in-person classes to a strategy of remote access to content and resources and hybrid classes.
We implemented the technical and physical infrastructure that supports these modes of teaching with videoconferencing systems, online learning platforms, a digital educational resource centre and access to specialised academic software, as well as classrooms and laboratories to be used from home. Clear road maps for students and teachers in remote-access mode supported it all.
Source: iStock
No university was prepared for the ravages of Covid-19. Students and staff frequently lacked the critical digital – and personal − skills to rapidly transition to remote learning. When it became clear that remaining closed indefinitely wasn’t an option, most institutions were obliged to swiftly design orientation and training for their academic community to keep the school year moving forward.
Latin American higher education has been wedded to a traditional paradigm of the university for centuries. Reform, when it takes place at all, tends to be incremental, often impeded by political interests, bureaucracy, regulatory bodies or all of these. The pandemic forced rapid adaptation, with urgent need prevailing over tradition and the obstacles of the past.