Covid-19 compels us to take a quantum leap into the realm of 4IR

The history of humankind is replete with many examples of natural and man-made calamities which have caused human beings to re-examine and re-engineer their way of doing things – be it in business, health, social relations or even in education.

However, none can come close to the effect that the Covid-19 coronavirus has had on people across the globe, particularly the manner in which it has influenced the urgency and the speed with which we have been compelled to embrace and actualise the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

Granted, the entire world – and indeed our own country – had already been grappling with the introduction of the 4IR in the broader spheres of society, including in the business and education sectors before Covid-19 was unexpectedly unleashed on to an unsuspecting and less-than-ready world.

In the higher education sector in particular, the advent of the Covid-19 and the resultant interventions by the state to curb the spread of the virus to unmanageable proportions, especially with regard to the restriction of movement and physical distancing, has necessitated both the introduction and expeditious roll-out of online methods of teaching, learning, student support and assessment.

Many institutions of higher learning, from universities to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, are now confronted with the challenge of having to make online teaching and learning a reality, and do so within the shortest time possible to save the 2020 academic year.

Many of these institutions have never played in this space before, while many others simply do not have the wherewithal or requisite financial muscle to deal with so huge a challenge.

Daunting as this task may be, it is one that we all have no choice but to confront. The state has made the task even lighter by making a provision in the budget to enable institutions of higher learning across the board to enter this space and empower their students to learn and succeed during these trying times.

This task is, of course, not one that can be tackled piecemeal and by any one institution alone. It requires a joint, concerted and unified approach that will yield the best result possible.

Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande rightly stated at a press conference recently that institutions which have experience in the field of open distance and e-learning, such as Unisa, can play a pivotal role in the space and share expertise, experiences as well as dos-and-don’ts with those who are new in the field.

I can say without any fear of contradiction that Unisa is more prepared and willing to step into the fray and impart its knowledge and skill in the field, gained over more than 145 years in distance education in general, and e-learning in the past decade in particular. If anything, there is a general consensus in our institution that this is a national duty for the good of the country as a whole.

Equally, while we are the only dedicated open distance and e-learning provider in the country, a few other institutions were allowed to enter the space of distance and e-learning in the past few years, and have amassed sufficient knowledge and expertise that can benefit the new entrants in the space.

This is a mammoth task, but it is not insurmountable. Together we will have to face the complexities of this environment, involving among others access to online learning material, the provision of online student support, online receiving and marking of assignments and online methods of student assessment.

The broader higher education sector leadership, from the respective education ministries and departments to university and TVET leadership, is alive to the socioeconomic realities of our country in as far as access to technology is concerned. 

For some it is a matter of affordability and for others the non-availability of the requisite bandwidth in their residential areas. Still others merely suffer from a simple case of technophobia.

Together, as a society, we should accept the reality that after Covid-19 we cannot return to doing things the old way, and that the online way of doings things is the reality of our time.

Indeed, it will not be easy, but I am convinced that our full entry into the digital space has now become an unstoppable juggernaut. Ours is to embrace 4IR fully and proceed full speed.

Makhanya is a professor and vice-chancellor at Unisa

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