Distance education and the future of universities

The world has known a short period ago, the transition to the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As it became the first word for communication technology and smart technologies, education moved from the classic to other styles, led by smart education. In the transformation that educational institutions like the whole world have known, since the beginning of the precautionary measures, there are many indications that we - with all challenges - can continue the march.
We can record that the continuation of education with all its requirements is an achievement that is recorded for the United Arab Emirates, and good leadership has brought us back to all challenges, as no student has stopped teaching, at the same time that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - UNESCO, in a report issued On March 10, 2020, 290 million students worldwide stopped going to school due to the new Corona virus.

A project to protect education

As part of the project to protect education, we must double the technological capabilities of all university employees. A student who has become accustomed to entering the virtual lecture with technological specifications will find it difficult to return him to the classroom in the university building unless it is speeded up, before these conditions are activated to activate the classroom and feed it with new patterns and developed methods and support it with technological presence. This leads us to think seriously about formulating specifications and other strategies to improve the educational process, to formulate new courses, and appropriate educational plans and methods to contemplate technological data.

Readiness test

The precautionary circumstances that called for the transition to distance education by 100% is a real test to measure the readiness of institutions, since since the raising of the precautionary conditions and the institutions ’decision to completely transform from a distance, global statistics from the start of the process until 28 March 2020 AD recorded that the equivalent of (80) %) In (116) countries in the world, there is a break in schools and universities.

Educational institutions in the United Arab Emirates were definitely out of this proportion and did not know the interruption of education.

In this context, it should be noted that the subject of the need for technical infrastructure and scientific technological skills is no longer limited to scientific disciplines alone; The response was not limited to this alone, nor to the transmission rate; Humanities, too, and all other disciplines have responded in a short time.

What confirms that technology and the possession of technology are a public educational affair and a common human means; Universities with human sciences programs needed only a few days to fully move from urban education to distance education, based on the total areas of the undergraduate plan in all academic programs, but the inherent capabilities and preparations in the academic and administrative bodies, and acceptance of the challenge are all essential factors In the success of this transformation.

Education in the future

Based on the statement of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God preserve him: A new world awaits us requires different tools .. and new priorities .. and our state will be the most prepared .. and fastest to rise, God willing, stressing His Highness this The saying ... that the future of education, health, government work, investment, trade, and our electronic structure .. all of which will witness new developments to keep pace with a future full of different opportunities, as the cabinet issued a package of decisions and legislation for which education had a share, as he stressed the importance of continuing the application of the distance education system until the end of the year The current academic year 2020-2019, in all government and private schools and higher education institutions in the country.

In line with this promising and rational vision, we aspire to establish a new educational world, with different specifications, in which the ability to respond and deal with technology technologies is the master of this choice, and it is the first bet for success.

This will be in line with the national qualifications system drawn up and new, applied educational goals in line with the labor market response. Perhaps today we have achieved, inevitably, the conditions that we have been aiming for for previous decades, namely, practical, skill education, which aims to build mental capabilities.

Perhaps the new options that have occurred in education, and the solutions offered by the Ministry of Education to ensure the continuation of education in these circumstances, which necessitated - what it required - that students pursue their lessons even if they are outside the state; Perhaps this procedure among many other procedures makes the next stage of education more ready for amendment and development, and the presence of the university building does not remain a prerequisite for affiliation with programs or institution; In the least cases, universities may combine in the future between the two systems: the (classical) attendance system and the distance system, with proportions determined by the nature of programs and the content of the courses, and educational goals, and this procedure will not only be in response to new conditions, to the extent that it is subject to the authority of technology and technical means, and in response to its capabilities, In line with its data, otherwise, our request will judge us in a time other than their time that enabled them to technology.

As far as we deal with the new circumstances and the available capabilities, we have moved education to a more effective environment, and it provides more feasibility, and although distance education is described as distance education, I believe that it has contributed to bringing the family, the student and the teacher closer to a new virtual learning environment Perfect at the same time.

Common Questions: Influence of Corona virus on your studies

In light of the circumstances that the entire world is going through now from the spread of the Corona virus, we know very well that there are many questions that students in a study trip and how this situation will affect their studies, so we are here to help you answer the common questions that students have in mind. Our continuous monitoring of the situation and contact with students. In times of uncertainty there is often confusion, so if you are an existing student or intend to enroll in a specific course of study, here are the answers to these questions that concern you.

1. Should I continue to search in universities for study opportunities today?
Yes, you can continue to search in international universities in the world to find out where you want to study, despite the current situation with the Corona virus, you can use this period in preparing study plans. If you are looking to study abroad in the year 2020 or 2021, it is helpful to search in universities for opportunities and various procedures, which may include some steps online, or postponed dates that you should follow.

2. What are universities doing right now to deal with the situation?
Universities around the world follow the advice and instructions provided by the government and the World Health Organization, so they close their campuses to protect university communities and prevent the spread of the Corona virus, and institutions have developed contingency plans to help students complete the existing curriculum. This includes amending evaluation criteria and converting the education process to online learning, as well as facilitating the work of academic and administrative teachers remotely.
The whole world is facing this epidemic together, so it is important that we support each other. Universities are aware of this, and they are aware of the anxiety this situation creates for students. Indeed, some institutions are going back on deadlines to relieve stress and anxiety. It is always best to check the institution you are studying in the institution or institution that you want to know the plans and procedures currently in place.

3. Which countries have restrictions on entry?
You can refer to the official government information sources for the latest developments and suggested advice, and you can also learn about the following destinations:
Australia
Canada
France
Germany
Italia
New Zealand
Spain
United kingdom
United State

4. What do I do if the university I want to join is closed?
Many universities have had to close their doors to ensure the health and safety of their employees and students, and this is necessary for them and for you too if you are to join them. Each university currently has a number of protocols in place to deal with the situation, and it follows government guidelines and instructions. We recommend checking the university's website for the latest information. Many universities have special information about the Corona virus in terms of its relationship and impact on universities and their work. If it is not on the university's home page, you can use the search field on their site. Although this process may differ between institutions, many universities have a specific email address or communication method intended for current and prospective students. You may be able to make inquiries online and get advice from its remote employees. They also provide student support in many areas from luxury to educational and professional counseling.

Many universities quickly transfer their lessons and resources and evaluate them online to accommodate students during this critical time. The future remains somewhat uncertain for the time being, but some universities are preparing for a new class of students to start the first stage with online learning so that they can enroll in person when things get back to work. Remember that universities want new students as well as they work hard to make sure that this can happen after these global situations.

5. Can I take an English test?
English language tests such as IELTS and TOEFL have taken precautions to protect their employees and students. So this resulted in the suspension of tests in some locations. There are some other places that have chosen to open their doors with precautionary measures such as providing masks, hand sanitizers, and barriers. You can find more information about these measures on the IELTS website for students who want updates on the TOEFL and the Graduate Assessment Examination GRE test, you can browse the ETS Tutorial website.

What will happen in universities after the return to study?

The impact of the spread of the Corona virus on university study in the whole world, because of Corona, the study in all its forms has stopped in all educational institutions all over the world, and the date of returning to normal life is still unknown, and that of course will affect the educational process as a whole, and will affect universities and colleges in all their forms and types , Some universities will lose huge losses, despite the universities resort to solving e-learning as an alternative solution to the continuation of the educational process almost naturally for students, but that will not prevent the damages that the universities damaged, and will be affected in the future, such as:

big loss:
After the stoppage that occurred due to Corona, the universities and colleges all lost huge losses, whether at the level of investments and the economic level, or at the level of study, curricula and students, and the income coming from scholarships and international students as well, and it also lost some of the students who intended to apply for scholarships in the next year At the very least, and the transition to studying online was very expensive for some universities around the world, so we can say that the crisis of the spread of the Corona virus has infected universities and study with complete paralysis and great harm.


Student pressure:
Also, after the end of the Corona crisis, universities will face great pressure from students, especially international universities, which will be accepted by students for the new year that will start in the next few months, in addition to the universities ’commitment to complete the education of students that stopped their education in the current semester, in addition to the old scholarship programs, And plans to receive new grants, all of these plans must be completed, and that will put great pressure on the university administrations, which we agreed that their losses will be in the first place.

Student interests change:
During the current crisis, some fields such as medical, pharmacy, and even science in general have become a priority for many students, which will put pressure on some scholarships in the future, and will constitute a vacuum in applying for some other scholarships, as this crisis will constitute a disruption in the global scholarship system Just as it was a bug in many areas around the world, due to the changing interests of students themselves in studying abroad, and the e-learning available in a large way can play a big role in the future in changing the interests of students due to their attendance of online training courses in various fields, which Many of them are now free.


Grant affected:
As we have said, the scholarship system in the whole world has been disrupted and distracted, and of course after the losses that universities will lose, the opportunities for free university scholarships will decrease in the whole world. It is now certain that the scholarship process and its mechanisms will be affected in all universities and educational institutions, and this means that many students do not receive On opportunities that would change their lives, the work of thousands of employees working within the grant mechanism has stopped working, organizing and communicating with universities and connecting students to universities.


The educational process floundered:
As for the progress of the educational process, it has already failed since the time of the layoff, and the harm to it will increase as the time of that crisis increases. There are many universities whose students do not have a culture of distance education via the Internet, and this is sometimes true, as distance education is one of its disadvantages. Cut off part of the effective communication between students and professors, and the confusion that occurred among students due to the lack of scheduling of exams and their methods, making trust weak between students and educational institutions, and this will affect the study after the return.


Transition to e-learning:
The transition to e-learning also has disadvantages, it has advantages, advantages that make many students prefer it over traditional education, there are some studies that said that the place of e-learning after the end of the Corona virus crisis will change significantly, and this method will rise in education, and thus students will flock to education From a distance, which will weaken the position of universities and the position of traditional education as a whole.

Distance education:

Raising the profile of some universities:
Changing students ’interests in terms of different fields and their focus on studying new fields will of course increase the value of universities in which the best majors are the majors that students have preferred, and therefore it is expected that the ranking of the best universities in the world will change radically in the post-Corona period and before the next academic year, On the other hand, there are many universities that will give less preference to students, and that will revolutionize the whole educational field.

How will the Corona virus affect the study of medicine around the world?

We heard many opinions after the spread of the Corona virus crisis that medicine has returned to its rightful place as the most important science for man, so the issue of doctors has risen in the whole world after medicine has become the first and last hope in discovering the treatment and serum that will save the world, and therefore, according to the opinion of many experts in The medical and educational fields, the study of medicine will move to a higher position than it was, and will return to its prestigious position as the most important field of study in all universities of the world. Of course, the study of medicine in the whole world will be affected as follows:

More students:
Because of what happened in the field of medicine in the last period, it is expected that many students coming to the university stage will come to medical colleges of various forms and types, because of the importance of medicine in the hearts of the Corona virus in young people's importance of medicine in life, so who among us does not want to be influential in Life by discovering such an important discovery as a cure for a serious disease that threatens humanity like Corona, and pharmacology will also evolve and will greatly increase its popularity.

College expansion:
After this demand for medical colleges, of course, universities will need to expand into medical colleges of all kinds, and it will become important to develop medical sciences and the institutions that study them to cope with this increasing pressure. This will affect the curricula and their development, and will also increase the effort to focus on implanting medical values within medical students.

University hospitals:
Educational medical hospitals are located in most of the universities that teach medicine in the world, so that they are related to them, educational for their students, and at the same time receive patients and treat them better and sometimes cheaper than regular hospitals, and these hospitals played a big role in containing Corona's sanitary isolation in All countries affected by the epidemic, and this will push universities to increase investment in these hospitals significantly, which will enhance the medical educational process everywhere.


Epidemiology:
Epidemiology is a science that we have not heard about until after the emergence of the crisis of the spread of the Corona virus, and it is a science specialized in the study of epidemics and analysis of its data and the extent of its impact on societies and the world. After this crisis, this science related to medicine will be greatly active. Behind it, knowing its details and delving deeper into it, so this science is considered one of the most important sciences influenced by the Corona virus crisis, especially after it became widespread in all countries of the world, and grants in this field are expected to increase in various universities around the world.

Pharmacology:
As for pharmacology, it is one of the most important sciences that will be affected by the spread of the Corona virus, so its study and interest in it will increase, and it will become one of the most important science around the world. Pharmacy, and this will increase the specialty of pharmacy, this specialization will match medicine specialization more than it was, and it will also force universities to open new institutions and horizons for its study, and its demand will also increase at the level of scholarships in all universities and colleges of the world.


International and scientific interest:
After all of that, we can comfortably say that the whole world will increase its interest in medicine and doctors in all their fields, and interest will also increase in all branches of medicine, such as pharmacy, epidemics, etc., so universities, companies, and investors around the world will increase their investment in students who wish to obtain a medical degree And practicing this important profession, and therefore we can say that the crisis of the spread of the Corona virus is a qualitative shift for medicine and doctors, the beginning of a new stage for the relationship between universities and medicine, and a shift in the way people also view the world of medicine and all related professions.

The White Army:
In the previous days, we heard the term white army, which has been applied to all medical professionals, because they carry it on themselves to protect people from the threat of a pandemic, and from the risk of diseases that have faced the world for a long time, and diseases that will face the world in the future, so what will happen to medicine after a crisis Corona Global Virus is Prosperity, whether as a study or as an action.

How do you get a scholarship?

International universities and donor institutions offer thousands of scholarships at the beginning of each academic year, and despite the clarity of most of the conditions required to obtain these scholarships, many students struggle to apply for them. In this article, we will talk about the most important observations regarding obtaining high scholarships:

First and foremost, do not pay any money, no matter how simple it is, to any person, institution or office in exchange for applying for the grant. In the end, this grant is free.

• Pay attention to the readiness of the data and the supporting documents: a valid passport, previous academic certificates translated into the required language and certified by the concerned authorities.

• Good rate: If the rate in your previous anchored stage is less than 70%, then I do not think that you will be able to obtain a scholarship, as most universities require an average of no less than 75%. Of course, this point may differ between one university and another.

• English Proficiency: Most international universities that adopt the English language require you to obtain an IELTS certificate with a score of no less than 6.0 or a score of no less than 120 for the TOFEL certificate

• A letter of recommendation from one of your former professors praising your academic competence and your ethics commitment.

• A motivation letter that you write yourself explaining why you chose the university and your view of the specialty you are studying and your vision for the future after graduation, there are many motivated messages spread on the Internet, but we do not advise you to rely on them as such tricks will not be fooled at the university.

Some universities and donor institutions require the student to have previously worked in a volunteer work within civil society organizations and charities

• In some partial scholarships, the university may ask you for a bank balance proving your financial ability to bear the costs of housing and living.

• Some donor institutions require you to return to your country at the end of your studies, such as the Chevening Foundation, which we talked about in a previous article.

• Not only apply for one fellowship, do not despair and continue to provide grants to more than one donor university or institution.

• Consider that some of these conditions may differ from one university to another.