In light of rising concern about the current COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of universities across the world have either postponed or canceled all campus events such as workshops, conferences, sports, and other activities. Universities are taking intensive measures to prevent and protect all students and staff members from the highly infectious disease. Faculty members are already in the process of transitioning to online teaching platforms. In this review, the author will highlight the potential impact of the terrible COVID-19 outbreak on the education and mental health of students and academic staff.

When adapting to this new normal, universities have quickly evolved their digital tools and platforms to ensure uninterrupted educational delivery to their isolated students. 

QS recently established an ongoing survey of higher education professionals to understand the challenges they face and how they’re embracing online learning opportunities. 

According to our analysts, 50% of the survey respondents had already switched some of their scheduled courses online, and we predict this number is only set to increase as the coronavirus continues. 

One respondent stated: “Our biggest challenge was how to move from traditional education to e-learning and how to overcome the problem of practical courses and training.”

For those struggling to move online or rapidly scale up learning platforms, edtech companies like iTeach.world, Raftr, Aula, and Intergreat are offering remote teaching tools and online platforms free of charge.

Jean-Pierre Guittard, CEO and founder of iTeach.world, states that: “I think what is going to change here is that schools are being forced to make the change that they need to make because in the background there’s been this huge market shift where people have realized that we have these communication tools… This is waking people up and making them modernize their approach to instruction.”

This sentiment is something that Robert Hsiung, China CEO of the online educational company EMERITUS, agrees with wholeheartedly. QS recently interviewed Robert to get his take on the surge in online learning:

“The massive move to online is forcing the education system to figure out how to drive engagement at scale in their courses. This has created a special window for us to leverage our experience in supporting these schools.