Communication academics are optimistic despite uncertainty

By Iylia Marsya Iskandar

GOMBAK, 3 September 2020: Despite the current challenges faced by universities and institutions in this uncertain time following the COVID-19 pandemic, Communication scholars and academics in this region are optimistic that they would be able to find a solution to their academic programmes through adaptation, adjustment and collaboration among institutions of neighbouring countries.

This was the common view shared by panelists in a discussion on “Communication Education in this Uncertain Time” during the Communication Research Webinar (CORENA 2020) which was conducted live online this morning.

The panelists were Prof. Dadang Rahmat Hidayat from Universitas Padjadjaran Indonesia, Prof. May O. Lwin from Nanyang Technological University Singapore, and Dato’ Prof. Dr. Adnan Hussein from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

The discussion centred mainly on three areas surrounding the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic on Communication education, the impact of the economic problems arising from the pandemic on universities, and its impact on Communication education in the changing media landscape.

Panelists shared insights and experiences from their own respective countries.

Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Syed Arabi Idid from the Department of Communication, IIUM, chaired the one and the half hour discussion which included Question and Answer session from the audience.

“In this uncertain time, the COVID-19 pandemic had pushed us for new methods and approaches for the implementation of campus activities and the sustainability of educational services so that we remain productive and performing,” shared Prof. Dadang Rahmat Hidayat of Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia.

Prof. May O. Lwin from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore told the audience that Singaporean universities have taken the initiative to adopt hybrid learning such as implementing the zoning system that segmented the university into zones and conducting large classes online and small classes physically.

In this uncertain time, Prof. May said that there was a need to review the curriculum for Communication education as it is a demanding field. This can be seen in advertising where the mode of advertising has now shifted to the digital space.

Prof. Dr. Adnan agreed with Prof. May where he too felt there is a need for universities to revise the curriculum. He pointed out several changing skill sets which include critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility.

He said: “Previously, we have taken a lot of time in what needs to be done in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Speed and review is slow. But in the pandemic, we feel the urge and the immediate need. We cannot play with time and we have to do it very fast.”

According to Prof. Dr. Adnan, Communication education is affected in the areas of the mobility of students and staff where most international students cannot travel to respective universities and just meeting online is not sufficient. And in research too, he said, new research areas are coming up and research work itself is limited in terms of funding.

Agreeing with the curriculum review in this uncertain time, Prof. Dadang urged for a need to focus on “building a superior and globally reputable study programme by implementing remote learning that is supported by the enthusiasm of lecturers and students to improve the quality of learning along with student’s achievement and skills”.

“Learning should remain humanist, creative and must have a wide network of intellectual abilities with social sensitivity,” Prof. Dadang said.

On the issue of the impact of economic problem on the universities, Prof. Dr. Adnan said that the economic problem has been a real challenge even since pre-COVID-19 and universities were forced to be creative and innovative in raising their own fundings to curb the shortage of budget and funds.

He elaborated that universities have been urged to upgrade to align with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and incorporate new technologies which require a huge funding, but with the current context of the COVID-19, Malaysia not only has to struggle to upgrade the national technological infrastructure but has also to deal with new norms and new behaviour.

The Malaysian government is struggling to maintain public universities but as the private universities are heavily relying on student’s fees in this age of unemployment and downsizing, there is a question on whether students can afford tertiary education, he said.

“Not only that, private universities and institutions also rely on international students. In the current restriction order, if the universities cannot get students from all around the world, private universities will be seriously impacted,” Prof. Dr. Adnan stressed. His view was supported by the other two panelists.

Meanwhile, Prof. May pointed out a new impact in economic problems where she said there will be a challenge in the headcount of faculty members.

“Communication-related jobs show an expansion especially in the digital frontier and will play a big role in the post-COVID-19 era. As science-related subjects often receive more funding, it is the duty of the department and scholars to convince the management of their university of the importance of Communication education,” she further said.

With the changing media landscape, both Prof. Dadang and Prof. May agreed that there is a need to talk to the industry to meet the industrial media needs and the community needs.

“Research and development activities must answer the needs of the community both on a national and global scale and the findings and new knowledge can be applied to improve the quality of life,” Prof. Dadang highlighted.

Prof. Dr. Adnan said that not only the media industry needs communication experts but all other organisations as well.

He added, “Strategic communication needs to be a core course because of the need of the industry to reinvent organisations and speed is important. We cannot keep thinking of doing things, but need to start doing it.”

In summing up the discussion, Prof. Dr. Adnan said, “Nobody has an answer to the COVID-19 issue, we are all struggling and there is no model to emulate, not even from the West. There is no ready-made answer to the problem.

It is therefore time for the nations to take charge of our problems and issues and collaborate with neighbouring countries because we share certain commonalities.”

The one-day CORENA 2020 was organised by the Department of Communication, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, IIUM.

Earlier in her opening address, the Head of the Department of Communication, Dr. Zeti Azreen Ahmad said that this year’s seminar session was different from the previous one held last year because this time the organiser has invited panelists from neighbouring countries to participate and give their insights on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Communication education programme.

Apart from that, there were 12 paper presentations from the lecturers and another 13 from post-graduate students of the Department of Communication.

The webinar was attended by scholars, lecturers and students from all around the world through zoom platform. ***

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