Analysis of the situation in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the world: opportunities and threats of online training

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 185, Issue 9-10, Pages: 167-177

Citation information:
Kolomiets, O., & Litvinova, T. (2020). Analysis of the situation in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the world: opportunities and threats of online training. Economic Annals-XXI, 185(9-10), 167-177. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V185-16


Olga Kolomiets
D.Sc. (Pedagogy),
Аssociate Professor,
Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Medical Psychology,
Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
8-2 Trubetskaya Str., Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
kolomolga@mail.ru
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3212-9792

Tatijana Litvinova
PhD (Pharmaceutics),
Аssociate Professor,
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs,
Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
8-2 Trubetskaya Str., Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
litvinovatat@list.ru
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8682-2819

Analysis of the situation in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the world: opportunities and threats of online training

Abstract. Introduction. The essence of the situation in education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the world is quite complex: due to the large number of restrictions in some countries, education is conducted completely remotely or hybrid. In the period of 2020, medical university students were forced to practice in hospitals in the context of the pandemic, helping local medical staff, which helped to fill the shortage of specialists.

The quality of education will inexorably fall due to low involvement in remote education as well as many distractions which have already proven many researchers.

Universities were not ready for mass digitalization due to government restrictions and social distancing, so the quality of material transfer cannot match the classical education.

The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of the pandemic COVID-19 on the medical education market and its stakeholders.

Results. Universities were not ready for the transition to online (distance) education, as evidenced by the decline in the quality of education, based on surveys of the faculty of some universities. As a result, on the one hand, you can get higher education online while in your country, on the other hand, the quality of education falls without an adequately commensurate practical part (for example, medical education cannot be of high quality when it is taught online).

Over time, only the year 2025 is expected to surge technologies to improve online education and the full transfer of many universities to provide distance learning; it is a good chance to get an education to those who previously could not obtain it, including for economic reasons.

Conclusion. The global COVID-19 pandemic has become a catalyst for global processes of digital transformation in all spheres of life. In such circumstances, the role of digital technologies in education has become extremely important. Among the many technological advantages, their ability to protect human lives and at the same time ensure the implementation of the educational process remained almost unnoticed. Current situation has accelerated the mass transition to the use of digital technologies, including digitalization of education, its technologization and standardization.

Keywords: Medical Education; COVID-19; Digitalization of Education; Technologisation; Standardization

JEL Classіfіcatіon: D86; H75

Acknowledgements and Funding: The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Contribution: The authors contributed personally to this work.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V185-16

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Received 2.08.2020
Received in revised form 2.10.2020
Accepted 16.10.2020
Available online 21.11.2020
Updated version of the paper as of 29.12.2020