The outburst of pandemic Covid-19 has unanticipated impact on every aspect of human life including education. All the campus are required to be closed to avoid face to face activities. Teaching-learning has been shifted to online mode and digitization has become an inevitable part of student life. This uncertainty of situation has made the world understand the importance of being updated and familiar with technology. But this adaptation has not been cake walk for everyone, from leading institutions to institutes in rural area, this transition has been challenging and complex for everyone. There has generated a list of requirements to avoid sudden disruption in education like technology-driven infrastructure, trained teachers and other staff, remote management and the list goes on. The worst impact can be realized on the students who are supposed to get enrolled in American and European countries for further study as they have no alternative but to go for another decision. Let’s look at the following challenges faced by Higher Education system of India:
1. Redefined approach for all educational activities: The massive hit of COVID-19 has compelled the force closure of institutes that impacted the way the institutes were used to handle their educational activities that raised the challenges for the stakeholders. It is said true that need is the mother of invention, COVID-19 has proved the same. Now the higher education institutes have no option other than the adoption of digital technology to maintain the teaching-learning practices seamless and effective. But apart from teaching-learning institutes handle many other operations like admissions, entrance test, extracurricular activities, technical activities etc. However, within a very short span of time the approach to organize and handle all the educational activities has been redefined and the use of e-tools like Google Meet, Skype, Youtube live, Facebook live etc. has been accelerated to meet the challenges.

2. Assessment and Evaluation: Assessment and Evaluation are integrable parts of the education. Higher Education of any country defines the strength of the country. So, it becomes necessary to maintain the integrity of Grading system in the institute. Switching the teaching and learning from classroom to online mode has mandate to restructure the ways of assessment and grading as well. In the time of crisis most institutes have decided to follow “no detriment” policy that ensures final grade of students will be nolower than their average academic performance in the times of adversities.

3. Research and Development:The pandemic has mixed impact on research and innovation as due to constraint on mobility, travelling nationally and internationally has been restricted that has complicated the completion of many collaborative research projects but on the other side this limitation has made webinars and e-conferences normal platforms to share their ideas and expertise globally and academicians can get ample time for publishing their research work reputed journals.

4. Increase of unemployment: Appearing in entrance tests for job recruitments has always been a zeal in the life of a student of higher education. But due to pandemic situation entrance exams either of Govt. or private sector got cancelled suddenly that created negative impact on the student both mentally and academically. Fresh graduates are in constant fear of losing their jobs due to pandemic situation. These unpredicted situations imply towards the less employment opportunities or increasing the rate of unemployment.

5. Roles of Educational bodies: Despite of all the pandemic uncertainties, the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have not lost their courage to always respond positive towards the unforeseen challenges and managed to safeguard the academics and research through the pandemic. Educational Institutes have employed E-learning has been adopted at all levels to avoid disruption in learning. many Remote institute management portals have been proved boon that get the complex task done in a simple manner whether it is admission of fresh candidates, fee payment, announcement of result, library management and many more to maintain the continue of learning in this sudden outbreak.e-The implementation of GyanKosh, Gyandarshan, Gyandhara, DIKSHA, e-Adhyayan, e-Pathshala, e-Yantra, FOSSEE, SWAYAM, eSodhsindhu, Sodhganga, Swayam Prabha, Vidwan, Sakshat, National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT), National Digital Library of India, Virtual Labs etc. have revolutionize the academic scenario and made the learning free from classroom boundaries.

Conclusion: Unpredictable situations demand the innovative ways and education industry is doing its best to cope with challenges of uncertainties. COVID-19 has made us acceptable that yesterday lifestyle will no longer be today’s routine. Even after the pandemic situation is over, our lifestyle will not be same as earlier. Institutes are required to accept the hybrid model of education and being and remain the tech-savvy is the only option to get the things seamless in this paradigm shift to avoid any undesired interruption in learning. This pandemic has been acting as a catalyst for the educational sector to bring out the best in using reliable online education system platforms and technologies. Digitization of education industry and adopting different approaches than earlier are two elements to get it survive in the times of crisis.

Source from: https://steemit.com/higher/@icloudems/what-is-the-impact-of-covid-1...