13 September 2022

Academic handbook calls for higher education pedagogy reform in developing nations

Book from Abertay University Deputy Principal highlights need for new approaches and technologies

Professor Alastair Irons

Universities in developing nations must urgently reform their teaching and learning models to take better advantage of the opportunities brought about by digital technology, a new academic book from Abertay University has concluded. 

Deputy Principal & Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alastair Irons co-authored The Emerald Handbook of Higher Education in a Post-Covid World which focuses on higher education providers in developing countries in Africa and the Global South. 

The book, which was written in collaboration with Professor Byron A. Brown, Director of Research and Innovation at University of Zululand, South Africa, and other contributors, highlights the urgent need to reform pedagogical models and expand the range of teaching approaches, practices and learning interaction options for students. 

The co-authors address the importance of supporting students and safeguarding their social and emotional wellbeing as they engage in learning methods that have significantly changed since the pandemic, such as the introduction of blended learning. 

Chapters in the book cover a range of themes, including the opportunities of gamification and blockchain technology, cybersecurity in digital classrooms, culture and policy concerns, and priorities for African education systems post-Covid. 

Professor Irons said:

The Covid-19 pandemic forced the global higher education sector to adapt its approach to teaching and learning on an unprecedented scale and to embrace changes in technology at an unprecedented pace. This book, which focuses on institutions in developing nations, offers insights for academic staff, researchers and policy makers on how our universities can grow and adapt in the wake of the pandemic to ensure we are delivering the best quality experience to our students in way that fits their individual needs.

The Emerald Handbook of Higher Education in a Post-Covid World is available from Emerald Bookstore. 

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