Digitization of education and the challenges of the academy
Beyond being a right, education is the engine of individual and collective development of communities worldwide and one of the critical instruments to reduce poverty rates and contribute to social stability.
This tool makes it possible to improve living conditions, increase the employability levels of the countries, reaffirm the identity of societies, diversify the fields of development and promote innovation in different educational areas.
As is well known, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in students’ lives due to the challenges it brought with it and the impact that the new way of teaching left on children, youth, and adult learners.
Educational institutions offered virtual and distance education modalities to deal with this impasse. Although there were difficulties at first in adapting to this new way of learning, it was the most effective tool to achieve continuity in the academic training of big and boys.
Although many educational institutions had already begun to make their first steps in digital transformation long before, with the pandemic, they had to dedicate themselves entirely to virtuality and invest economic resources to carry out the new project: the digitization of education.
This deficiency was so evident that the Ministry of National Education created a sponsorship plan for the universities with the most experience in digital transformation to exchange experiences and share their knowledge with those not yet strengthened in this area.
In addition to demonstrating the importance of technology in education, it was evidenced that the digitalization of learning is synonymous with equity and quality, according to the need to continue learning and promote the continuity of teaching.
Benefits of digitalization of education
The digitization of education has facilitated, in turn, the teaching of content based on various methodologies that adapt to individual needs in any area and level of study.
One of the biggest challenges that virtual education currently faces is getting students to develop self-learning skills and take advantage of the support of their teachers to achieve compliance with their academic commitments. Self-commitment, dedication and discipline are essential so that the application of new technologies allows the creation of experiential experiences that promote the exchange of quality knowledge in technological classrooms.
To take another step in this global evolution and focus its students on developing vital elements for the digital transformation of education, BIU University created the “Master of Science in Virtual Education with a concentration in the digital transformation of education”, where it also If they have the possibility of developing a specific plan for their educational institution, they will be able to apply these strategies in the short term.
It is imperative to cover this type of process from different areas, and what better than to start with the business model of the educational centre of which it is a part, evaluate it from its administrative and academic side, and review its programs, courses, and its culture?
BIU seeks that its apprentices understand and lead the transformation processes in academic areas. They are also interested in students understanding the differences in the uses of technology based on the educational objective and can respond to the administrative and operational upon completion of their master’s degree.
Undoubtedly, virtual education has impacted all areas of society, so the progress of the labour market and the development of new skills and technological skills are turning to new skills and ways of learning, thus transforming the way to educate and learn.