The impact of Covid-19 on the student experience: USW Vice-Chancellor contributes to HE leaders’ discussion

Professor Julie Lydon, Vice-Chancellor of USW, took part in a Higher Education Leaders’ podcast series this week to discuss the post-Covid-19 student experience.

With university campuses across the UK continuing with blended learning, the podcast –hosted by education and technology not-for-profit organisation Jisc – saw a panel of leaders contribute to the conversation on how the pandemic has impacted students.

Prof Lydon was joined by managing director of higher education (HE), Jonathan Baldwin, deputy chief executive of Lancaster University, Nicola Owen, and Mike Larsen, CEO of Stuiosity, an online study help platform, for the podcast.

In the discussion Prof Lydon said she observes a “a strong sense of collegiality” and “great creativity” among learners throughout the pandemic. “Being connected as a community has been really important,” she says.

Nicola Owen agrees, adding: “Students have been remarkably resilient. They’ve made the best of what has been a challenging period for them, and I think they have really appreciated efforts that have been made [by the university], seen that we’ve innovated as we’ve gone along, and participated in that innovation.”

There have been difficulties too, however. Mike Larsen says that students report feelings of “isolation and anxiety” – combined with “gratitude for the efforts being made by universities to continue to support their learning and deliver their programmes.”

Jonathan Baldwin praises the work that has been put into make this transition successful. “All universities are grappling with this,” he says. “Leading and managing in the digital world is very different from managing and leading in the physical world.”

Prof Lydon adds: “HE in the UK has, for many years, been exploring ways in which there can be a greater partnership with our students, from the design of curriculum and learning experiences right the way through to students being on the governing body.

“Covid-19 has accelerated the delivery of digital, remote and online teaching and learning, and I  welcome greater accessibility and inclusion, and greater student participation, as a result.”

Listen to this episode of the podcast or  Download the transcript (.docx) of this episode.