NTU report on resilient universities during the COVID-19 pandemic: differences between East and West

• Main Authors: Evers, Vanessa, Tsyrulneva, Iuna
• Other Authors: NTU Institute of Science and Technology for Humanity (NISTH)
• Format: Newsletter
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: Other; Resilience; University; Global; COVID-19; Performance
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/173933; https://www.ntu.edu.sg/nisth/nisth-programmes/nisth-publications
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This report evaluates the resilience of universities worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report offers insights into how universities could provide educational services, engage in international collaboration, maintain research productivity, and support their nations in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. National policies, fluctuations in external funding, international partnerships, technological infrastructure, research excellence, and other factors influenced each approach. The report offers an overview of prevailing trends, best adaptive practices, and conditions needed for a swift and sound response to COVID-19 by universities worldwide. It also provides in-depth case studies of eight universities: Nanyang Technological University, Tsinghua University, University of Sydney, Stanford University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Rwanda, Tec Monterrey, ETH Zurich. Some of the key factors that have helped the universities thrive: 1. Investment in digital transformation: Universities with upgraded technological infrastructure and digital learning facilities were able to switch to online learning overnight. 2. Leveraging international partnerships: Universities with strong international partnerships were able to collaborate on research, develop vaccines, and find external funding to keep the research going. 3. Preparing for the worst and the best: Some universities anticipated a reduction in research funding but saw an increase, while student enrollment dropped. Universities that secured external funding and focused on student well-being were better positioned to navigate the crisis.