University challenges Universities are facing diverse social and economic challenges: reduced government funding, higher costs to maintain facilities, strikes by students or staff and now the coronavirus pandemic. Such challenges cause disruptions and affect the efficient operation of universities. As a result, higher education institutions search for alternatives to traditional on-campus teaching, to overcome these difficulties. And the best alternative by far is online delivery. The advantages of online learning It is a fact that, through technology, universities can increase their outreach and revenue by recruiting students from around the world. In the era of smartphones…

Should Africans prepare for more measures against the pandemic? As the numbers of covid19 cases grow in Africa, governments will take more measures. The rapidly spreading virus must be stopped. Bans on foreign travel and restrictions in movement are already in place in many countries. Furthermore, citizens may be asked to stay in their homes and avoid physical contact with others. Even walking in the park you are asked to keep a distance of two metres from others.

The threat to universities from the coronavirus pandemic The coronavirus pandemic forces countries to take strict measures. Universities fear on campus outbreaks. Such outbreaks could create problems with academic procedures. However, there is a very viable alternative to disruptions which threaten universities with closures. The alternative is online learning. Online learning is invincible by diseases, extreme weather phenomena, or social unrest. Therefore, the development of the Internet and technological advances have turned online learning into the new big player in education. It is flexible, affordable and accessible to almost everyone. Sick students can continue with their studies, new mothers can…