What will learning look like at universities in 2021?

The world is still trying to adapt to life under a pandemic. Its impact has been felt by every person, in every industry, in every corner of the globe. Nowhere has this effect been as unsettling and disruptive for the younger members of our population, than in our education system.

For matric learners, it’s been a tumultuous and uncertain year, with stresses that are far greater than any previous matric year in recent memory. Aside from the obvious health concerns of the coronavirus or any financial implications felt at home, Grade 12 learners have also lost a significant portion of their academic year. This has impacted their ability to adequately prepare for exams that usually play a key role in university applications.

“This year has been an exceptionally challenging and stressful one for Grade 12 learners, and we are doing everything we can to support our new applicants,” says Professor Cheryl Foxcroft, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Learning & Teaching at Nelson Mandela University. “We have extended our late application closing date to allow Grade 12 learners additional time to apply, with an opportunity to also now use their matric trial exam results in their application.”

Professor Foxcroft says this decision is also in line with Nelson Mandela University’s commitment to broadening access.

“Applicants also do not have to stress about their Grade 12 results only being released in mid-February, as our academic year will only start in March 2021. There will be ample time to finalise early acceptance offers to applicants before first-year classes begin.”

And those new classes are likely to be somewhat different too. According to Prof Foxcroft, the virus has transformed universities and their approach to teaching students.

When the country went into national lockdown in March this year, it brought the bulk of on-campus activities to a standstill. This new reality forced universities to quickly adapt and offer students digital learning solutions.

“Before COVID-19 hit our shores, we made a strategic decision to move the University into a new digital era. This digital-first approach bore fruit early, as the pandemic meant we not only had to find creative – digital – ways to communicate with our staff and students about the virus but we also had an opportunity to do things differently to save the academic year,” explains Prof Foxcroft.

The University committed to providing every student with the opportunities and support to complete the 2020 academic year. Its human-centred, hybrid approach, which blends contact and online learning and teaching opportunities, has enabled the institution to be flexible. While connecting with and assisting students to restart and continue their learning during the various lockdown levels, it has enabled this to happen at a pace tailored to suit students in their different contexts.

In a country where not all students have access to devices or have connectivity where they live, it was important for the University to put steps in place to address this digital divide.

Taking into account the different needs, circumstances and challenges that students might experience, the University provided all registered students with free data, supplied data management guidelines, gave recommendations for zero-rated data learning websites and offered students the opportunity to buy or loan a laptop through their Student Laptop Initiative.

“Given the innovative learning opportunities that academics have provided, and the grit and determination of students to master online learning, the University is on track to complete the 2020 academic year on 27 February 2021.

“Despite the challenges our country is facing, we need to prepare as best we can today, for an unknown tomorrow. While that future may be uncertain, what is certain is the learning experience that new and returning students can expect in 2021. Whatever the trajectory of the pandemic, our human-centred, flexible, hybrid learning and teaching approach will enable us to provide access to the highest levels of education through a combination of contact and online learning experiences.

“We care for our students and will personally connect with them providing individualised learning opportunities and support wherever possible,” says Prof Foxcroft.

In return, however, Nelson Mandela University students are expected to work hard and take responsibility for their learning, while also becoming change agents through the variety of social and community-responsive activities that exist beyond the classroom.