Going Digital in COVID Times: IGNOU’s Experience

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been ravaging the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) all over the world since the beginning of 2020. The epidemic began on March 23, 2020, and learners were forced to miss classrooms for an extended period of time. Educators and governments all across the world were looking for innovative ways to benefit learners by keeping the teaching-learning process operating smoothly. As a result, HEIs were required to produce a detailed and well-structured action plan. There were only two viable options: distance and online learning. IGNOU was in a strong position as a leading HEI for distance and online learning. Disruption management, on the other hand, did not have to be limited to teaching and learning. Policy and planning, governance, infrastructure management, personnel management, medical emergencies, financial management, statutory requirements, liaison with government agencies, and the safety and well-being of learners and employees were all critical areas for the University to manage during this time. This study aims to prove how, by combining technology and a predictable decisionmaking process, a university with a pan-India presence can sustain continuous operations.