COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing rules introduced compulsory working from home. The mask-wearing, social distancing, stay-at-home, WFH, online schooling, online shopping, etc., have become the story of the past, but still, the pandemic coronavirus genie is not bottled up. Lifestyle and habits have changed….is it for good?
Everyone is not interested in rushing back to the office environment. Employers are considering adding a hybrid employment model to their employees’ demands for flexible post-pandemic schedules.
The hospitality and tourism sector’s future seems grim. Tourists’ expectations have changed. For concerns around safety, especially in public places, people prefer technology like app-based check-ins & outs, touchless payments, AR/VR, etc.
The impact of education across the globe has changed, but patterns differ. Demographics, location, equipment access, broadband issues, and government policies all played a role.
Schools had to adapt to distance learning, and college students enrolled in on-campus courses had to embrace unexpected online learning.
New norms are popping up, but it is still early to say they are here to stay. However, the pandemic forced people to adopt online education, but today, after the scrapping of COVID-19 restrictions, people are getting comfortable with these adaptations.
In this article, let’s get to know online education will benefit adults. Will online courses be the new norm in reality post-COVID?
Employers are adapting to the new demand
Virtual jobs and internships are predicted to grow. In the same way that classes were pushed online during the crisis, so were college students’ internships. Employers who have gotten accustomed to this change are finding it advantageous because they gain a chance to recruit diverse candidates. The physical location was a barrier to fresh recruitment before the pandemic.
Employers will endure fueling a growing movement towards non-traditional degrees and non-degree education. Google pioneered in treating tech certificates equivalent to degrees during the recruitment process. This is supported today by 130+ companies; today, thousands of people got hired based on their online course certificates [majority of them have no college degree]. Employers will invest in financial support for their employees seeking online course certifications. It is a trend that is here to stay.
Students are in control
The academic year calendar seems to vanish because the changes made during the pandemic now offer flexibility to the faculty and students. Simultaneously, degree acceleration opportunities are offered to those planning for quick graduation.
Instead of struggling with costs associated with high education or ever-increasing tuition fees, universities now need to compete with low-cost online degrees. Elite universities are no longer education models. Their lack of serving minorities and poor student records pushes top-ranked institutions toward zero.
Working adults find online learning flexible
Online courses offer people the flexibility to virtually learn without the need to travel to an on-site campus. They can learn at their own pace and schedule. It provides them with career advancement, including upskilling, reskilling, earning a promotion, salary increase, or switching careers. Online learning during the ongoing pandemic has even triggered working adults towards upskilling and reskilling.
Affordability
Online program fees differ based on credential types and offerings. You can choose an online course that suits your professional or career needs and even your budget. You save cash spent on commuting to the campus or even on housing. Generally, employers pay for your online education if the program aligns with future or current responsibilities.
