The Future of International Education: Navigating a Post-Pandemic World

The pandemic brought changes to life as we know it. The changes, although new to everyone on earth at the time, were slowly becoming the new norm later into the pandemic. As the pandemic raged on, new ways of working and studying were at the core of altering people’s mindsets on an international scale. In terms of child education, forcing classrooms into homes was the new rule. Out of force came gradual acceptance, and now, online teaching is still practiced in many parts of the world, where it suffices to meet educational requirements.

The Pandemic - An Opportunity for Educational Transformation

How did the world adapt with regard to education during the pandemic? As every activity went online in every subject and area of education, things became more aligned with digitalization. Radical changes have taken place in higher educational institutions, to go digital, even though the pandemic is more or less over now. Digitalization has taken place rapidly, setting new records and making learning easier and more convenient. Child education took a turn for the better with most schedules and lesson plans being posted online. This fresh digital perspective and the ability for educational institutions to change in record time had everyone thinking about the digital space.

Ripple Effects

While Covid 19 wiped out around 2 decades of gains as per the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN (Goal #4) concerning the provision of “lifelong learning opportunities for all”, governments and their learning systems have been challenged in the post-pandemic world. The move from the active classroom to the home for education brought some positive domino effects though. For one thing, schools did not have to expend large sums on infrastructure costs, and teachers' and students' travel times to and from school were eliminated. An educational plan was in order in every educational professional’s mind as new ways of thinking and problem-solving prevailed. These ways prevail even now.

The Future of International Education - Two Pandemic-Based Effects to Consider

Post the pandemic, two important issues have researchers thinking about education. The first issue has to do with accessibility that is equal, and the second, focus on the purpose and the meaning of education. The general agreement about education is that it forms an integral part of the life of a child, and is a crucial component of the agenda of sustainable development. Furthermore, higher education leads to more qualifications in an individual and consequently, better job prospects. In terms of lifting people out of the lower economic strata, online education during the pandemic gave access to people in remote areas who couldn’t formally reach schools for active classes.

Curriculum Shifts Post Covid 19

Child education has remodeled itself to adjust to the digital age and the demands of the current generation. There is a distinctive metamorphosis in educational approaches, aligned with current ways of thinking and doing. What is the result? International universities are more open to international students and curriculums in many fields have shifted their focus. Now, more skill-growth is targeted, rather than just theoretical understanding. Due to the digital revolution that surfaced during the pandemic, the popularity of fields of study like coding, robotics, AI, machine learning, etc, have increased. The international curriculum has changed to adopt and adapt to these now much sought- after areas of study.

International Education - More Options

With more skill-oriented learning on the anvil, new fields of study have developed, and these cater to the interests of children. Parents are no longer pushing children into higher education to learn predominantly conventional material, to do with engineering and medicine, but are also propelling children towards fields like creative writing, psychology and horticulture. The international stage of education has become more open and diverse, enabling students from anywhere on the planet to have the opportunity to quality learning. More concessions are made for students, especially the differently-abled sections for whom the classroom is a physical challenge.

New Ways to Teach, New Ways to Learn

School and college infrastructure has evolved in the days following the pandemic. Now, most international learning institutions boast of smart classrooms and make use of digital equipment to foster interactive learning. The internet, previously never used in actual classroom settings, is now becoming an effective tool for interactive learning. Students learn complex subjects with the ease of 3-D slides and videos, plus simulations to explain and grasp concepts. The learning outcomes of most international schools, including colleges, have become positive and enhance the motivation of students. In turn, child education leads to higher education and a genuine love of learning in a chosen field.

The Positive Effects of the Pandemic

There is no doubt that the pandemic caused pandemonium of gigantic proportions, but the fallout for the education sector has been good. In terms of international education, it is worth a child’s (and a parent’s) decision to opt for this, as schools abroad have great learning facilities and skilled teaching staff. Furthermore, the plethora of specializations and areas of study has increased and there is a course for every interest and level of study. International education is by no means affordable by several individuals, and top universities may charge high fees for tuition. Above and beyond that, there are charges for material, stay and books, plus other incidental charges. Emergency funds also need to be planned for, in the case of any unexpected financial requirement of a student. How does a parent pay for all this? The only rational way is through a plan made years in advance.

Opting for an International Education

There are certain child plans for education and channels of investment to grow wealth. Child education may not be as far-fetched a dream as it once was. Today, if salaried individuals put aside money to build a corpus for the future education of their children, they may well be able to afford a good educational program in a quality school abroad. Most parents aspire towards international education and the locations vary from the famous US of A to other upcoming education centers like Australia and Singapore. Moreover, many American universities have affiliated colleges in various parts of the world now.

Sources:

1. https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/education-today/featurephilia/story/education-in-a-post-pandemic-world-heres-what-to-expect-in-2023-2316228-2023-01-02
2. https://www.ey.com/en_in/education/are-higher-education-institutions-ready-for-the-post-pandemic-world