For the past two years, students in tertiary institutions have had to negotiate the choppy waters of online tuition. Thousands of students at universities across the country will be returning to face-to-face learning. But it will require a reconnection that might take time.
In many spheres, one’s journey is often as memorable – sometimes even more so – than one’s experiences at a destination. The SA education context is no exception.
There is little doubt that online tuition was a vital lifebuoy during the pandemic and lockdown, and that it will form an increasingly important part of our future educational landscape. The huge digital divide online education exposed needs to be addressed urgently to ensure that students from all socioeconomic sectors and both rural and urban environments can access online resources.
Online learning essentially eliminated the need for a physical journey to a tertiary education campus. This comes with many perceived advantages: no transport costs, no travelling time, no moving out of one’s comfort zone.
People go on journeys because they want to get somewhere. The physical journey to a place of learning, of course, also reflects a more figurative journey towards an envisaged career and a successful future.
Over the past two years, students often reported feeling they were "drifting" in the online environment, not always sure where they were heading, feeling a bit disconnected. Maybe part of the reason for this is that they were not physically going anywhere.
A journey also almost always implies some sacrifice. Whether it is getting up early to catch a train, a bus, or two taxis to university, incurring fuel costs or transport fees, or just strolling to class across campus from your residence – a successful journey requires discipline and planning.
It takes commitment to make those sacrifices. And in turn, sacrifice fuels commitment.
Probably the most poignant aspect of the journey analogy is that it makes you aware of other travellers. The students in passages, walking into class, are a constant reminder that your journey is not a solitary one. Fellow travellers – and fellow students – reaching out to one another, sharing tips and experiences, make the journey easier.
Covid-19 research projects all over the world point to one basic bottom line: the absence of physical interaction has taken a huge psychological toll on most students. However, psychologists on our campuses report a significant increase in students seeking help in the restart of contact learning. Some students find the prospect of returning to campus stressful and even terrifying.
The value of providing students with different forms of psychological support during these unusual and uncertain times cannot be overemphasised. At the University of the Free State (UFS), various support initiatives over the past two years have undoubtedly contributed to the fact that we could complete the academic years of 2020 and 2021 successfully.
As tertiary institutions, we need to not only focus on what is convenient for our students but on what they actually need. And as human beings, we need social interaction.
Most universities are introducing some form of blended learning programme, combining online and face-to-face tuition.
As we welcome students back on campus, it is vital that university leadership remind them that their study years should be a holistic experience. We should encourage them to make use of the precious reconnection opportunities with those around them. And be patient as they negotiate their way in an old-but-new environment.
Let the journey begin.
• Prof Petersen is rector and vice-chancellor of the University of the Free State
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