COVID-19 and Higher Education: evolving teaching and learning for sustainability - a new era or temporary response?

Beasy, Kim, Polanco O'Neil, Joy K and Ruiz Vargas, Valeria ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0008-0747 (2024) COVID-19 and Higher Education: evolving teaching and learning for sustainability - a new era or temporary response? Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 21 (3). ISSN 1449-9789

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic catalysed unprecedented shifts in higher education worldwide, prompting a reevaluation of teaching and learning practices amidst the backdrop of sustainability imperatives. This editorial synthesizes diverse scholarly contributions exploring the intersectionality of COVID-19, sustainability, and higher education. Amidst ongoing global grappling for a "new normal," this special issue poses a central question: How has higher education responded to sustainability amid the pandemic? Reflecting on institutional responses, the collection illuminates both challenges and opportunities in fostering sustainable futures. Themes of technological integration, social sustainability, and policy implications emerge, underlining the need for adaptive pedagogies and community-centered approaches. As higher education navigates this transformative era, the editorial calls for sustained innovation and a commitment to nurturing resilient, inclusive, and environmentally conscious learning environments.