25 TRAINING AND TALENT
PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATION New programs and partnerships forge ahead despite pandemic-related disruptions 2020 has been a challenging year for universities around the world. Campuses have closed under lockdown measures and academics have had to adapt their teaching and research to new realities. Universities with flexible learning models have fared well, despite the circumstances. Very early on, KAUST’s Coronavirus Task force set guidelines for adapting classroom instruction to a virtual educational model. Its early response has reaped rewards, and despite ongoing global uncertainty regarding the pandemic, KAUST has been able to increase student enrollment while launching new educational programs and partnerships with overseas institutions.
Adapting Instruction During COVID-19 Despite the challenges and disruptions presented by the pandemic, KAUST’s student enrollment has risen to new heights. In the 2020/21 academic year, there was a 48% year-on-year increase in student enrollment, with the number of both international and local learners rising strongly. Most are based in KAUST residences, but more than one-quarter of new and existing students are learning remotely. KAUST’s ability to keep student enrollment up is testament to the university’s agility in adapting to remote learning set-ups.
The university continues to push the boundaries to improve learner experiences and outcomes. The pandemic has created opportunities for KAUST to implement existing technology in previously unforeseen ways. While most teaching can be done online, the practical elements of lab work have been far more limited. The university is now looking at ways to implement virtual reality technology in the form of virtual labs, which would help facilitate the continuity of study for many KAUST students when being physically present on campus is not possible.
