University World News, in its latest article, refers to World Bank reports about the fast growth rate of several African economies. As a result, the middle class on the continent is expanding. Millions of parents in Africa now can and want to support their children through university. Yet, traditional brick and mortar universities are slow to develop, so there are not enough new places to satisfy demand. Of course, the obvious alternative is online learning. The question is, can online learning build a capable, qualified workforce in Africa, to drive the growth and development of the continent? Modern technology offers…

Millions of people around the world work from home during lock downs and social distancing measures, enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19. As a result, many organisations are set on continuing this trend, even after the end of this crisis. The reasons for this range from lower overheads and maintenance costs to higher levels of job satisfaction reported by employees. Yet, the important question is: how can one remain efficient, productive and happy while working from home?

As a result of the pandemic, unemployment rates in the USA have risen to 14.7%. More than 40 million people have claimed unemployment benefits after losing their jobs. The situation is quite difficult in most OECD countries too. The Covid-19 global public health crisis is creating severe challenges in the workplace.

While leaders and governments in many parts of the globe are still fighting Covid-19, others are already planning for the future. As it transpires, one of the main keys for success in the post-pandemic world is transformation through new learning. Time to reset and restart It’s a fact that the present public health crisis has brought the world to a standstill, and now a dynamic reset and restart is called for. But the question is, what kind of leadership in the post-pandemic world can inspire individuals, companies, organisations and countries to reinvent themselves in order to succeed? Before this crisis,…

While waiting for the vaccine to save millions of lives, we realise the consequences of the pandemic crisis. Lives are lost, confidence in governments is lost, businesses close, jobs are lost, markets crumble. The future is uncertain, but that the way we live and interconnect will be changed forever.

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…