LU Vice-President generates roundtable discussion at UNESCO WHEC 2022 Conference

Prof Joshua Mok Ka Ho was invited by UNESCO from 18 to 20 May 2022 to present his recent research into the"Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education", which they had commissioned at the World Higher Education Conference (WHEC) 2020 in Barcelona, Spain, and also to lead the discussion of the issues raised at the WHEC Roundtable.

 

Also joining the Roundtable discussion were Prof Jandhyala Tilak, former Professor and Vice Chancellor, NUEPA, India, Roberta Gordano, President of Gallaudet University, US, and Dr Emma Sabzalieva, Head of Higher Education Research and Policy Analysis UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Their exchange of views focused not only on COVID's adverse impact on global higher education development, particularly in addressing challenges in teaching/student learning, research and international collaboration, university finance and governance, and international student mobility, but also on how different stakeholders should work together to promote the UNESCO goal"Leave No One Behind".

 

Prof Mok then joined the"Global Conversation on the Workforce in Higher Education" panel led by David Edwards, General Secretary, Education International, with Grace Nyongesa, National Chairperson, Universities' Academic Staff Union, Kenya, David Robinson, Executive Director, Canadian Association of University Teachers, Canada, Susan Hopgood, President, Education International, and Karina Batthyany, Executive Director, Latin American Council of Social Sciences. The panelists critically examined how COVID-19 has adversely affected higher education workers, and how teachers unions in different parts of the world have responded. They also talked about the different measures and practices being adopted to address challenges confronting the workforce in higher education, especially in countries and regions facing significant funding cuts.

 

Prof Mok met colleagues from other parts of the world at the conference, and explored future cooperation in promoting UNESCO 2030 development goals. The delegation from Xiamen University led by Prof Bie Dunrong agreed to collaborate closely with Lingnan University in higher education research and academic programmes.

 

 

LU Vice-President generates roundtable discussion at UNESCO WHEC 2022 Conference LU Vice-President generates roundtable discussion at UNESCO WHEC 2022 Conference