Yes, of course. From my point of view, e-learning alone ( i.e. distance learning) will not succeed without traditional face-to-face learning. Because e-learning hasn't achieved the desired aims or results, traditional learning is better. At least, the hybrid learning (i.e. blended learning) of both of them is better than the traditional one. This is especially true for the developing countries on these days of this disaster.

We in Iraq universities are open to graduate students and they are continuing to study and research

Dear Antethar Jabar,

Thank you for providing the answer correctly and sharing your idea in respect of your country, however, in my country, in Bangladesh, the University is not open yet.

Dear Lilian Mboya,

A lot of gratitude to you fir your active participation in this fruitful discussion and providing the valuable link.

Dear Nidhal Kamel Taha El-Omari, Javed-Iqbal, Aneeba Rashid

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you for your recommendations as well as to inspire me by following the answers made by the valued RG members. Thank you so much for your participation in this discussion.

Dear Dr. M. D.H. Prodhan you have touched a very important issue. It's your kind information that in our country, most of the university has continued their course study (Especially MS, PhD & Final year) through virtual platform and simultaneously MS and PhD student have been trying to continue their research work also. It's true and there is no doubt C-19 disaster has occurred the tremendous loss in academic institutions. Thank you so much and wishes the best.

Yes, of course. From my point of view, e-learning alone ( i.e. distance learning) will not succeed without traditional face-to-face learning. Because e-learning hasn't achieved the desired aims or results, traditional learning is better. At least, the hybrid learning (i.e. blended learning) of both of them is better than the traditional one. This is especially true for the developing countries on these days of this disaster.

I think yes.

Dear Md Abdur Razzak Choudhury,

I express my earnest respect, sincere appreciation and enormous indebtedness to you for your nice contributions. I am happy to hear from you that most of the university has continued their course study (Especially MS, PhD & Final year) through virtual platform and simultaneously MS and PhD student have been trying to continue their research work also.

Thank you so much for your contributions. I do believe that your contributions and discussions will be very much helpful for me as well as others RG members. Really Thank you so much.

Dear Nidhal Kamel Taha El-Omari

I wish to express my gratitude and best regards to you for your nice comment. I am agree with you that e-learning alone ( i.e. distance learning) will not succeed without traditional face-to-face learning. I do respect your nice and insightful contributions. Thank you so much.

Dear Mohammad Abdulhai,

I feel proud to express my deepest and endless gratitude to you for your fruitful contributions . Thank you so much.

It is not necessary to this degree to open universities, at least waiting for a period of two weeks until the end of the incubation period for the virus.

Dear @ Mohammed-Jaafar-Ali-Alatabe,

Thank you so much for your contributions. I do believe that your contributions and discussions will be very much helpful for me as well as others RG members. Really Thank you so much.

M. D.H. Prodhan

Dear Professor Prodhan,

Thank you for the interesting topic of discussion.

There is no doubt about the fact that higher studies, specially Ph.D. students have been adversely affected by this pandemic. Lack of data (primary), denied access to labs, unavailability of research guides and supervisors are some of the reasons behind it.

Resumption of operations in universities seems to be a very difficult proposition under the circumstances. An university usually has many departments, professors, guides, students, non-teaching staffs etc. It is very difficult to maintain the COVID protocols in such an environment. Moreover, if one person gets affected by COVID, then the entire department (at least) has to be sanitized. The cost of that is huge. So resumption of operations in universities is not going to be cost effective right now.

Best regards,

Anamitra.

Yes sir you are absolutely right

I do agree with you

That should be opened

I have opened labs for research rightnow

The future of postgraduate studies is in danger ... we must pay attention and make up for it

Dear Anamitra Roy,

Thank you so much for your nice and fruitful contribution. I am pleased to read your answer as you have given the answer correctly with proper justifications. Thanks a lot for your participation.

Dear M.K. Tripathi,

Thank you so much for your correct and precise answer.

Dear Salsabel Jaber,

A lot of thanks for your nice contribution.

Yes you are right Sir, agreed with your opinion.

Dear Amjad Ali,

Thank you so much for your nice contribution, you have rightly mentioned with proper justifications.

This Covid-19 pandemic has seriously affected higher study especially PhD. Many of my co-workers are in the middle or about to start their PhD journey, but could not go forward due current pandemic situation and international travel restrictions. Some universities running their activities by online, but it is necessary to open Universities to start physical academic & research activities.

Dear Mohammad Monirul HasanTipu,

Thank you so much for your nice contribution and insightful discussions.

thanks

Dear Stephan C. Mann,

Ebrahim E. Elsayed,

Thank you so much for your appreciation, it inspire me to do more research work.

The pandemic has made many adverse effects in almost every one's life in all possible ways. In many countries it is still great fear and this fear will not get reduced in near future. So It is not good to still stop the opening of Higher Education Institutes(HEIs). Maintaining social distance and taking all precautionary measures and opening the HEIs is the need of the hour

Dear Sathish Kumar Chandrasegaran,

Thank you so much for your nice and insightful contribution.

There are many countries especially in the developing countries of the world are now opening most of the sectors except educational institutions, that is why the students of that region's are seriously affected. For example, in Bangladesh all the sector's are now open, but the University are still closed. Therefore, I think that the University should be open at this moment. Thank you.

I don't think so as there are online platforms where PhD defenses can be carried out or consultations with supervisors can be done.

Yes, it is necessary to open.

For Bachelor and Masters, yes. But I feel like in PhD, the physical presence is not that important. The student can just perform the research on his own and ask advice and communicate with his advisor by mail or through online meetings. Dropbox can be used so that the articles is simultaneously available with the student and advisor.

Correct me if I am wrong but I feel that for PhD, physical presence is not that essential and does not add much (unlike for BS and MS).

Dear Vincent O. Nyangaresi,

Thank you so much for your nice contribution.

Dear Shaker A.N. Al-Jadaan,

Thank you for your accurate and precise answer. I am agree with you that the educational institutions should be open right now in the country where the others institutions, organisations are already been started their regular activities.

Dear Roudy El Haddad,

A lot of gratitude to you for providing the answer correctly with detailed descriptions. I am totally agree with you that for the PhD students, it is not a problem, who are continuing their research in their own country, but for the foreign students and scholarship awarded students who conducting their research in abroad, in that case it is a serious problem. For example, many Bangladeshi students are pursuing their PhD in China and due to pandemic, they have returned in Bangladesh and they are still in Bangladesh, they are not able to go and continue their study until the situations are not improved.

Blended teaching and learning nowadays have been on the rise and have been successful in resolving some challenges in relation to higher education. It has been difficult but it might be impossible until it is done. Coping is key.

To some extent. Online platforms helped a lot.

Dear Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak,

Thank you for your contribution in this time-befitted discussion.

Dear Bodh R Sharma,

A lot of thanks to you for your nice and precise answer.