Combating COVID: Exploring Pakistani Universities' responses to COVID-19

ABSTRACT

This study investigates Pakistani universities' responses during COVID-19. Permanent faculty members from eight different universities were interviewed for data collection. The participants reported six different strategies that were employed to continue the teaching-learning process during COVID-19 from well-developed LMS to virtually no classes. They also pointed out five main issues and challenges during COVID-19 (i.e., infrastructure and internet-related issues, students' participation and engagement issues, teachers' training and attitudinal issues, quality assurance issues, and lack of uniform policy by HEC). They also feared increased educational disparities due to the digital divide. Although this pandemic has adversely affected the higher education sector in Pakistan, if the policymakers and institutions are willing to learn and innovate, this crisis can be turned into an opportunity. © 2022, IGI Global.