Global educational and research trends during the Corona (Covid-19) pandemic

Abstract

Corona pandemic (Covid-19) has changed many aspects of human life, as it managed to close the airports, impeded global trade, and led to the global economy shrinking more than the stage of the Great Depression that occurred in 1929, as well as halting the process of education and higher education. On the other hand, researchers faced challenges and obstacles such as carrying out field work collecting data from various sources, stopping research funding. The research funding priorities have further directed towards the research related to Covid-19. Moreover, Corona Pandemic made it obvious that higher education needs to be reformed and re-evaluated globally to be adaptable during crises. In addition to that, there is a need to develop curricula in the universities and enhance their research role to prepare qualified graduates for the labor market. The spread of the epidemic is no different from other security threats, such as espionage and cyber wars, and the closure is only an attempt to protect the health of citizens which is part of the national security of the society. It is no longer the only conventional war that threatens the national security of countries. Nowadays, Corona virus has proven that the next danger to countries arises from laboratories, that is, biological warfare, which may eliminate human life in seconds. Corona crisis has reconsidered a set of priorities and drew attention to the risks and threats due to neglecting the scientific research, generated tremendous pressure on innovative activities, stimulated innovation exclusively in the health sector and provided the opportunity for the emergence of true scientific competencies. However, during the global health crisis, many international scientific laboratories of respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, immunology, and other sciences in the same field have been involved to find vaccines against the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19). Statistics showed that the contribution of Arab universities and research centers was unassertive in the dissemination of scientific research and patents to confront the Covid-19 virus and did not rise to the international standard of the universities. Therefore, this chapter aims to clarify the trends of the digital learning of international educational institutions to develop the educational and research electronic platforms to produce digital scientific materials, providing digital scientific research sources and training in scientific research skills in the digital environment in addition to develop digital informational awareness for researchers, and publishing scientific research related to Covid. - 19. The current study also reviews the most important challenges encountered by researchers and graduate students in the use of advanced technology, such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and dealing with cloud computing and big data. The chapter further discusses the future of scientific research in light of the persistence of the Corona pandemic, and the lessons learned from this crisis. Keywords Corona pandemic, education and higher education, scientific research, educational platforms, digital education programs, innovative activities, scientific publishing for universities, patents, artificial intelligence.