Upcoming Book: Higher education’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic – Building a more sustainable and democratic future

Public health was the immediate concern when the Covid-19 pandemic struck in Asia, then in Europe and other parts of the world. The response of our education systems is no less vital. Higher education has played a major role in responding to the pandemic and it must help shape a better, more equitable and just post-Covid-19 world. This book explores the various responses of higher education to the pandemic across Europe and North America, with contributions also from Africa, Asia and South America. The contributors write from the perspective of higher education leaders with institutional responsibility, as well as from that of public authorities or specialists in specific aspects of higher education policy and practice. Some contributions analyse how specific higher education institutions reacted, while others reflect on the impact of Covid-19 on key issues such as internationalisation, finance, academic freedom and institutional autonomy, inclusion and equality and public responsibility.

The book describes the various ways in which higher education is facing the Covid-19 pandemic. It is designed to help universities, specifically their staff and students as well as their partners, contribute to a more sustainable and democratic future.

Editors of the book: Sjur Bergan, Tony Gallagher, Ira Harkavy (Founding Director of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania and Chair of the International Consortium), Ronaldo Munck and Hilligje van’t Land

Read more.

Some of the authors who contributed to the book participated in a panel discussion moderated by one of the editors. View the webinar here.