The technological transformation of the education sector in the Asia-Pacific region has accelerated amid the pandemic. This is how intelligent technologies are most useful in delivering quality education mitigating health risks, and building student resilience.
That is according to the findings of the study “Reimagining the Future of Learning in the Digital Era,” a recent IDC InfoBrief that was commissioned by Lenovo. The study found that for many educational institutions, change management processes and operational best practices were mostly skipped as mass migration into distributed and online learning during the pandemic was quickly launched.
Thus, most educational institutions recognize the critical need for a well-coordinated and structured approach to ensure digital accessibility, curated content quality, enhanced student learning experiences, and support for educators and administrators. However, budget constraints serve as a critical factor as up to a third of educational institutions in the region expect their liquidity to fall by 10% to 20% and about a quarter anticipate a greater drop of about 20% to 49%.
Challenges in the next normal
Educational institutions across the region now face the challenge of maintaining a delicate balance between pre-pandemic normalcy and protecting students’ health. Curriculums that may not be replicated virtually (like engineering and medical courses) have to be carried out through simulation of physical learning experiences without compromising students’ health and safety. Ensuring access to materials despite geographical locations, family income and varying age groups is also a problem.
According to the IDC InfoBrief, 35% of educational institutions now turn their focus to strengthening their software capabilities, while 30% are considering investments into cybersecurity solutions to ensure the online safety of students. Meanwhile, 20% of institutions want to improve operational efficiency.
Smarter way forward for education
Education institutions must find smarter technologies to speed up digital transformation. They can do so by leveraging educational solutions. Through collaborations with software developers, Lenovo now offers holistic and smarter education solutions that are designed to protect the software and hardware used for distributed learning.
Lenovo’s smarter solutions for education also allow students and educators to thrive in their daily experiences. The Veative Home Study application, for one, is a web-based learning library with more than 500 lessons, providing virtual reality experiences and assessments on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Students can also exercise their creativity using the suite of six creativity tools on their Chromebooks to create videos, podcasts, art, books, and others. Teachers can also use these apps to promote interactive learning.
“We have entered the next phase of what is likely to be a multi-phase pandemic, where the education landscape still remains extremely fluid,” said Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager Michael Ngan. “In this dynamic environment, learning has to continue even if students and teachers are physically apart. Educators and institutions have the opportunity to take advantage of transformative technology, such as Lenovo’s smart education solutions, which will enable them to stay agile and equip students with the necessary 21st-century skills for the future workforce.”