EDITORIAL: Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned from Qatar University College of Pharmacy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2020.202.7881Keywords:
Quality Assurance, Global Pandemic of COVID-19, Higher education, Virtual learning platformsAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global emergency in all social realms including, economy, health, and education. In this article, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on education, particularly higher education in the State of Qatar and the strategies adopted to respond to the challenge. The paper further discusses the use of educational technology and strategies for distance-based and blended learning during the pandemic.
References
AlrayyanTV. (2020). Part of the meeting with Dr. Muhammad Diab - Dean of the College of Pharmacy - Qatar University [Tweet 15/03/2020]. Available at: https://twitter.com/AlrayyanTV/status/1239221414810595329
Bai, Y., Yao, L., Wei, T., Tian, F., Jin, D.-Y., Chen, L., & Wang, M. (2020). Presumed asymptomatic carrier transmission of COVID-19. Jama, 323(14), 1406-1407. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2565
Chen, N., Zhou, M., Dong, X., Qu, J., Gong, F., Han, Y., et al. (2020). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. The Lancet, 395(10223), 507-513.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30211-7
Gulf Times. (2020). Pharmacy students present graduation projects virtually, 9th June, 2020 - Gulf Times Newspaper. Available at: https://www.gulf-times.com/story/665210/QU-College-of-Pharmacy-students-present-graduation-projects-virtually
Huang, C., Wang, Y., Li, X., Ren, L., Zhao, J., Hu, Y., et al. (2020). Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. The Lancet, 395(10223), 497-506. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5
FIP [International Pharmaceutical Federation]. (2016). Transforming the global pharmaceutical workforce. Pharmaceutical workforce development goals. Available at: https://www.fip.org/files/content/priority-areas/workforce/wdgs-online-version.pdf
Meselson, M. (2020). Droplets and Aerosols in the Transmission of SARS-CoV-2. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2009324
MOEHE [Ministry of Education and Higher Education]. (2020a). COVID-19 Education Efforts, State of Qatar. Available at: https://www.edu.gov.qa/en/Pages/Corona.aspx
MOEHE [Ministry of Education and Higher Education]. (2020b, September). Back-To-School Plan Amended to Adopt Blended Learning, State of Qatar. Available at: https://www.edu.gov.qa/en/mediacenter/pages/mediacenter/newsdetails.aspx?itemid=177
Mukhalalati, B., Ashour, M., & Al Noami, A.E. (2020). Examining the motivations and future career aspirations of Qatari pharmacy students and alumni: A case study. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 12(11), 1329-1339. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2020.06.003
Naji, K.K., Du, X., Tarlochan, F., Ebead, U., Hasan, M.A., & Al-Ali, A.K. (2020). Engineering Students' Readiness to Transition to Emergency Online Learning in Response to COVID-19: Case of Qatar. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(10). https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/8474
QU [Qatar University]. (2020a). About Qatar University. Available at: http://www.qu.edu.qa/about
QU [Qatar University]. (2020b). Coronavirus (COVID-19). Latest Announcements. Available at: http://www.qu.edu.qa/coronavirus
QU [Qatar University].(2020c, May). Research. Research Magazine. Available at: http://www.qu.edu.qa/static_file/qu/research/magazine/English-13.pdf
QU [Qatar University]. (2020d). College of Pharmacy. About. Accreditation. Available at: https://www.qu.edu.qa/pharmacy/about/accreditation
QU [Qatar University]. (2020e). College of Pharmacy. Academic Departments. Programs. Available at: https://www.qu.edu.qa/pharmacy/departments/programs
QU [Qatar University]. (2020f). Newsroom. Pharmacy. Clinical Placements. Available at: http://www.qu.edu.qa/newsroom/Pharmacy/Clinical-placements-for-QU%E2%80%99s-Doctor-of-Pharmacy-students-switch-to-Virtual-rotations-during-COVID%E2%80%9319-pandemic
QA [Qatar University]. (2020g). Newsroom. Pharmacy. Available at: https://www.qu.edu.qa/newsroom/Pharmacy/(QU%E2%80 %93CPH)-conducts-its-Final-Year-OSCE-Exam-online-during-COVID%E2%80%9319
GCO [Government Communications Office]. (2020). Coronavirus (COVID-19). Available at: https://www.gco.gov.qa/en/focus/covid-19/
WHO [World Health Organization]. (2017). Tracking universal health coverage:2017. Global monitoring report. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/259817/9789241513555eng.pdf;jsessionid=3317DBE7B2A3DD085D12287FB978B613?sequence=1
WHO [World Health Organization]. (2020). Timeline of WHO's response to COVID-19. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/29-06-2020-covidtimeline
