University and pandemic: what impact on higher education?

Reflecting on the consequences of the pandemic in higher education to better support the university's transformation process. This was the aim of the online symposium organized by the UM on September 22, which brought together more than 40 experts virtually.

While the pandemic and confinement have brought their share of complications to our daily lives, they have also been an opportunity to take a constructive step back, as Brigitte Lundin so aptly illustrates. Brigitte Lundin, Director of the i-Site MUSE center for pedagogical innovation, has used this unprecedented experience as an opportunity to reflect on the transformation of universities. A process undertaken with Sophie Guichard, director of the Fabrique numérique at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM) and Thierry Sobanski, director of the digital campus at the Université catholique de Lille.

Squaring the circle

Highly involved in pedagogical innovation, these three colleagues came up with the idea last spring of a symposium to better consider the consequences and implications of the pandemic for higher education. " We often think of higher education as being built around the triangle of pedagogy, technology and learning spaces, with students at the center. Our idea is to take students out of this center, to work not just for them, but with them ", explains Brigitte Lundin.

It was around this concept of " squaring the circle " that the symposium took place, bringing together forty participants in a virtual space. Experts, higher education players and students exchanged views in the various workshops on offer. " For the discussions to be free-flowing and sincere, it was essential that they be non-hierarchical," emphasizes Brigitte Lundin.

From consequences to questions

A cycle of discussions opened by sociologist and great thinker on complexity Edgar Morin, who in his inaugural speech offered some food for thought on how to better think about the role of the university. Fighting against unilateralism, simplism and dogmatism, but also pleading for a fundamentally multidisciplinary university: "We have before us an excellent opportunity to confront a complex reality. This word does not mean complicated, it means containing links, interactions between factors that can be biological, social, ecological, psychological, religious etc."

Workshop discussions highlighted some of the consequences of the pandemic for higher education. The importance of the societal role of universities, the need to reinvent time, rhythm and space, as well as forms and models of assessment... "... to understand uncertainty and the unknown as subjects of learning. Apprehend uncertainty and the unknown as subjects of learning, develop interdisciplinary communities, make pedagogical transformation a resource to be shared. All these dimensions are key to designing tomorrow's education ", explains Brigitte Lundin.

"It' s the complementary nature of all our experiences that will enable us to learn and keep moving forward. It's an ongoing process, which raises profound questions about our institution, placing at the heart of the debate the need for long-term co-construction, and the financial, cultural and regulatory obstacles to be overcome if the university is to play a full role throughout our lives. These are just some of the avenues for future discussions.

A top-notch cast

The symposium's impressive cast of 40 experts included Anne Sophie Barthez, Director General of Higher Education and Professional Integration at the French Ministry of ESRI, François Taddei, Director of the Centre de recherches interdisciplinaires de Paris, Jean-Charles Cailliez, Vice-President for Innovation and Development at theCatholic University of Lille, and Benoît Raucent, President of the Louvain learning-lab.

Numerous UM representatives took part in the event, including David Cassagne, vice-president in charge of digital training, Jean Patrick Respaut, vice-president in charge of training and student life, Alexis Vandeventer, student vice-president, and Michel Mondain, dean of the Faculty of Medicine. The Faculty of Education, SupAgro,ENSCM and IUT directors were also involved in this major reflection, alongside students from Caen, Montpellier and Paris.