Steep trends: Social

The pandemic has placed universities in precarious financial situations and, simultaneously, has accelerated the proliferation of blended and online approaches to teaching and learning. While many institutions already offered courses in online and blended formats, there has been a significant increase in such offerings. However, the rapid transition to remote learning has also given rise to concerns about learner isolation, mental health and wellbeing. Staff, too, are increasingly worried about the precarious nature of their employment as universities continue to take a highly conservative financial line. Meanwhile, as universities seek to address financial pressures and enhance the learner experience, microcredentials and short courses offer the promise of a means to address an increasingly diverse learner population, enabling learners to address time constraints and participate flexibly at an affordable cost. However, such approaches need to be mindful of the challenges around access and capability of both educators and learners.