As a Higher Education institution, one of your main objectives should be to contribute to the success of all your students but how do you achieve it in today’s post-pandemic education?

Post-pandemic education in Europe

In the academic year of 2019-20, services provided by universities went from 95% on-campus delivery to 100% online virtually overnight. Despite the majority of students disliking “learning under lockdown” only 75% of students have returned to campus in 2022-23.

The pandemic heightened the need for digital technologies in higher education. To stay connected to and engaged with students, universities had to increase their online output. This investment in technologies helped universities around the globe overcome unprecedented challenges. However, since the pandemic and the return of face-to-face teaching, not all students have returned to full-time studies with 25% opting for a hybrid approach to university life.

This means we now live in a world where these digital investments must be spread so that all students, local or remote, receive the same level of digital support as they did during the pandemic.

Digital vs Physical Campus ROI

Both mediums of study offer benefits but the limitation of physically attending university is that only those students who are present benefit whereas further investment in digital provision will result in much easier access for students who learn remotely, in-person, and hybrid methods.

Digital evolution

The use of technology aiding education is nothing new, but the pandemic took what was once viewed as a luxury and made it a vital necessity. The rate of innovation in digital technologies caused by the pandemic took what was once only a physical resource and provided us with a digital alternative. This alternative and digital environment has resulted in several interesting outcomes. 

Reports and data have shown that digital campuses can increase student engagement, and create a sense of community and belonging while being able to support student well-being.

Ensuring value and Student Success

As students become more technologically advanced, so do their expectations of what their university can deliver. This is the case when it comes to community and well-being. This generation of students particularly wants to be treated as individuals and therefore have different preferences and needs in terms of well-being support.

The pandemic had a tremendous impact on the well-being of millions of people. Due to these challenges, digital measurement and interventions are essential. Universities cannot support the individualistic approach on this scale without the use of technology.

Through digital means and mobile-first technology, educational institutions can identify students in need quickly and, most importantly, in a personal and individualistic manner. Recognising students as individuals and addressing their individual needs creates a culture of care and community within your institution. This in turn, cultivates open channels of communication, engagement, and, ultimately, student success.

If you would like to know more about overcoming today’s higher education challenges, please watch - A European HE Panel - Discussing Today’s Student Engagement Challenges