Post-Pandemic Higher Educational Challenges: Lessons Learnt From COVID-19

Abstract

Since the beginning of the pandemic, universities acted in a differentiated and efficient manner. To contain the pandemic, the central measures related to contact restrictions and hygiene requirements at universities - including a partial suspension of face-to-face teaching in favour of digital online distance teaching. In this way, they sustainably reduced the risk of infection in their area of responsibility and, at the same time, continuously enabled students to complete a degree course. The pandemic has made the career paths of mothers - but also fathers - in science and the studies of people with family/care responsibilities more difficult. However, it has also made them easier sometimes, depending on the perspective. Universities and science have changed due to the pandemic, and this must continue to be taken into account more closely in the future to learn from the coronavirus crisis concerning how we can deal with other crises we are currently experiencing.