During a three-day hybrid online and face-to-face conference organised by Jijel University, scholars from around Algeria and the UK came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities of online learning since the pandemic.
Introduced by the Rector of Jijel University, Noureddine Ben Ali Charif, and Professor Said Chawki Chakour, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and organised by Dr Hanane Bechta of the Faculty, the conference raised important questions around access to education in times of crisis, balancing technological solutions with care and welfare for students, and how to effectively plan for the future.
In hindsight, the pandemic was a predictable event. The potential for both natural and human made disasters remains a major challenge with increasing risks related to climate change and biodiversity loss. Holistic solutions drawing on transdisciplinary thinking will be necessary, in all sectors and education in particular, as will better preparedness, adaptation and innovation. These were key elements for reflection underpinning some of the discussions.
Shared experiences of Adapting learning systems
In our opening lecture, as Co-investigators of the BA Youth Futures project, we described some of the challenges and successes of working together internationally with Jijel and Coventry Universities throughout 2020-21. Presenting with Dr Jessica Northey, I discussed some of the successes around online conferencing connecting researchers and students in ways that would previously have been impossible.
Joint conferences on the impact of the COVID pandemic brought together, virtually in Jijel, scholars from across the Middle East and North Africa region, the UK, Ireland and Holland. Similarly, we were able to form joint panels at the British International Studies Association annual conference, and in events at the British Council in Algiers whilst avoiding travel due to the rapid improvements in online technologies such as Zoom or Teams.
Dean of the Faculty, Professor Chakour insisted on the potential now for student autonomy and ownership of online learning,
Free and very effective software now also allows students to take the lead in organising events, seminars and trainings. This is something which has proliferated amongst Algerian student organisations in 2020 and of which we can be very proud.
Professor Said Chawki Chakour, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jijel
Online training for Youth Futures project
Speaking specifically on our research cooperation, Jessica described some of the successful online trainings we have run over the last year.
Our online trainings have included using the arts and creative methods to imagine the future, research design and methodologies and more recently hybrid trainings in Sustainability Leadership. Working with SLK, we managed to unite a group of Algerian postgraduate students physically present in the training in the UK, using zoom, with our network of students based across Algeria.
Dr. Jessica Northey, PI of the BA Youth Futures project
With joint online film sessions and debates with the producer, online lectures and breakout discussions in parallel as well as face-to-face training meant this training could bring together an international, dynamic and highly skilled group of youth researchers.
This week in Jijel the group was physically present at the university, with a strong connection online from students and staff from our UK partners.
Welfare, technology and connection
Nevertheless, one of the main conclusions from the discussions was the need to consider student and staff welfare. Resistance to online learning and teaching existed in all contexts and with reason. Disconnection, excessive screen time, and isolation have been major concerns over the last year. The issue of international students, particularly for our UK partners was a major concern. Far from their families, and stuck behind screens, the psychological toll of the pandemic has been significant for them.
During our initial workshops back in 2019, we encouraged our UK and Irish partners about the importance of working outside, drawing on nature to reflect on societal challenges. Taking our groups of postgraduate students up to the lighthouse in Jijel, where we explained some of the major challenges around maritime resources, fisheries, the impact of a changing climate on the natural habitat of the region, had far greater impact than learning from behind a screen or even in a classroom.
We were happy to see our colleagues at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales also using the outdoors as a healthier classroom setting to reflect on environmental and resource challenges in our more recent Sustainability Leadership training.
Innovation
One key learning from the last two years has been the need for flexibility and adaptation. We strongly believe that Algerian entrepreneurship and youth engagement will be a force to drive this in the future. Platforms for online learning as used by Coventry University, can help us reflect on how best to frame and share learning resources in the Algerian university. Yet, we can also draw on the exceptional skills and innovation of Algerian tech entrepreneurs such as Yassir or Tem Tem to develop specific platforms which suit Algerian students and respond to their needs.
We will also need to consider the social and psychological needs of our students, alongside the need to work in and with the exceptional natural surroundings from which we benefit in Jijel in particular. Combining health, nature, the outdoors environment, with skilful innovation and technology, will allow the next generation of researchers and young people to develop the necessary skills to adapt to a changing world in the 21st century.
