The Impact of Covid-19 on Innovation in the Higher Education Sector in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the restrictions implemented by governments such as social distancing have impacted the education sector around the world. Higher education institutions globally and in Saudi Arabia adapted to change in their delivery model as a result of the crisis. This research aims to investigate the impacts of Covid-19 time on the innovation practices in the higher education sector in Saudi Arabia. This research adopted qualitative approach and secondary research method where data was collected by using the desktop research. Saudi higher education sector and universities were chosen as a case study. The response to the pandemic has increased the efforts to tackle issues in the higher education and delivering learning via remote learning. There is a wide range of innovation practices in Saudi Arabia in the form of developing digital systems, increasing the interest in the infrastructure of remote learning and creating novel solutions for the educational processes in the higher education either by removing the barriers of distance and time or by encouraging self-learning via open educational resource platforms. This is in addition to the initiatives having collaboration and open innovation activities. However, these innovative practices are brought to life by the pressure of the pandemic, and they create a useful experience to explore difficulties in implementing innovation in higher education. There were some challenges such as the importance of students, staff training, and the importance of tackling mental health issues in higher education, in addition to providing equal learning opportunities for all students from different disciplines.