Reimagining the Place of Physical Buildings in Higher Education in Developing Countries in a Post-COVID-19 Era

Oginni, Yemi; Mogaji, Emmanuel; Nguyen, Nguyen Phong

Abstract

Universities often invest resources in developing learning spaces for their students. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, most activities in higher education institutions relied on physical infrastructure, including classrooms and lecture theatres. However, with the increased prospects of technology and the need to redefine higher education in a post-COVID-19 era, this chapter critically evaluates the relevance of physical buildings and develops a conceptual framework for reimagining their place in higher education in developing countries. The framework presents universities as providing learning spaces, faculties facilitating teaching in these spaces, and students engaging with the physical spaces to learn. Relationships between stakeholders, the course materials and the context of the country they are operating in will be explored. Ultimately, there is the need for physical teaching spaces, however this should be complemented with teaching technology. Universities however will have to explore their resources, student body and their pedagogical approach to hybrid learning in striking the right balance between investing in the physical and/or the digital estate. Using this framework presented in this study, university managers involved in managing the building and other physical facilities will find relevant practical implications that can enhance learning.

Citation

Oginni, Y., Mogaji, E., & Nguyen, N. P. (2022). Reimagining the Place of Physical Buildings in Higher Education in Developing Countries in a Post-COVID-19 Era. In Re-imagining Educational Futures in Developing Countries (283-305). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88234-1_15

• Online Publication Date: Feb 14, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 1, 2023
• Publisher: Springer
• Pages: 283-305
• Book Title: Re-imagining Educational Futures in Developing Countries
• ISBN: 978-3-030-88233-4; 978-3-030-88236-5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88234-1_15
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-88234-1_15
• Related Public URLs: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-88234-1
• Additional Information: First Online: 14 February 2022