AUSTRALIA - Study finds 40,000 tertiary jobs lost during pandemic [University World news, September 2021]

Title:

Study finds 40,000 tertiary jobs lost during pandemic 

 

Author:

Karen MacGregor  

 

Published:

University World News, 17 September 2021 

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20210917061003607

 

From the article:

The National Tertiary Education Union launched a week of action as a study it commissioned revealed that a shocking 40,000 tertiary education staff across Australia – nearly one in five – have lost their jobs during the pandemic. And, says the study: “Job losses are getting worse, not better.” Higher education has been hit harder by COVID-19 than any other industry.

 

Also See

 

Title:

An Avoidable Catastrophe: Pandemic Job Losses in Higher Education and their Consequences

 

By:

Eliza Littleton & Jim Stanford

 

Published:

The Australia Institute / Centre for Future Work, September 2021

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/theausinstitute/pages/3830/attachments/original/1631479548/An_Avoidable_Catastrophe_FINAL.pdf?1631479548

COVID-19 and Public Transportation: Current Assessment, Prospects, and Research Needs [Scholarly Article - Journal of Public Transportation, 2020]

Title:

COVID-19 and Public Transportation: Current Assessment, Prospects, and Research Needs

 

Author:

Alejandro Tirachini, Universidad de Chile

Oded Cats, Delft University of Technology

 

Published:

Journal of Public Transportation, Volume 22, Number 1, June 2020

https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jpt/vol22/iss1/1/

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great challenge for contemporary public transportation worldwide, resulting from an unprecedented decline in demand and revenue. In this paper, we synthesize the state-of-the-art, up to early June 2020, on key developments regarding public transportation and the COVID-19 pandemic, including the different responses adopted by governments and public transportation agencies around the world, and the research needs pertaining to critical issues that minimize contagion risk in public transportation in the so-called post-lockdown phase. While attempts at adherence to physical distancing (which challenges the very concept of mass public transportation) are looming in several countries, the latest research shows that for closed environments such as public transportation vehicles, the proper use of face masks has significantly reduced the probability of contagion. The economic and social effects of the COVID-19 outbreak in public transportation extend beyond service performance and health risks to financial viability, social equity, and sustainable mobility. There is a risk that if the public transportation sector is perceived as poorly transitioning to post-pandemic conditions, that viewing public transportation as unhealthy will gain ground and might be sustained. To this end, this paper identifies the research needs and outlines a research agenda for the public health implications of alternative strategies and scenarios, specifically measures to reduce crowding in public transportation. The paper provides an overview and an outlook for transit policy makers, planners, and researchers to map the state-of-affairs and research needs related to the impacts of the pandemic crisis on public transportation. Some research needs require urgent attention given what is ultimately at stake in several countries: restoring the ability of public transportation systems to fulfill their societal role.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) & Harvard University - Using machine learning to track the pandemic’s impact on mental health

Title:

Using machine learning to track the pandemic’s impact on mental health

 

Author:

Anne Trafton

 

Published:

MIT News, 5 November 2020

https://news.mit.edu/2020/covid-19-impact-mental-health-1105

 

From the article:

Textual analysis of social media posts finds users’ anxiety and suicide-risk levels are rising, among other negative trends.

BMC Medical Education (2020) - Distance learning in clinical medical education amid COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan: current situation, challlenges, and perspectives

Title: 

Distance learning in clinical medical education amid COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan: current situation, challlenges, and perspectives

Authors:

Mahmoud Al-Balas, Hasan Ibrahim Al-Balas, Hatim M. Jaber, Khaled Obeidat, Hamzeh Al-Balas, Emad A. Aborajooh, Raed Al-Taher & Bayan Al-Balas

Published:

BMC Medical Education, 2 October 2020

https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-020-02257-4

Background [from the Abstract]:

As COVID-19 has been declared as a pandemic disease by the WHO on March 11th, 2020, the global incidence of COVID-19 disease increased dramatically. In response to the COVID-19 situation, Jordan announced the emergency state on the 19th of March, followed by the curfew on 21 March. All educational institutions have been closed as well as educational activities including clinical medical education have been suspended on the 15th of March. As a result, Distance E-learning emerged as a new method of teaching to maintain the continuity of medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic related closure of educational institutions. Distance E-Learning is defined as using computer technology to deliver training, including technology-supported learning either online, offline, or both. Before this period, distance learning was not considered in Jordanian universities as a modality for education. This study aims to explore the situation of distance E-learning among medical students during their clinical years and to identify possible challenges, limitations, satisfaction as well as perspectives for this approach to learning.

'Scarred for life': Sage experts warn of impact of Covid policies on the young

Title:

'Scarred for life': Sage experts warn of impact of Covid policies on the young

 

Author:

Amelia Hill 

Published:

The Guardian, 20 October 2020

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/20/sage-experts-warn-of-impact-of-covid-policies-on-young-generation-z-harm-pandemic-coronavirus?CMP=share_btn_tw

From the article:

The Guardian understands that some advisers on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which feeds directly into UK government decision-making, warned ministers “several” times about the risks to people in this age group but believe they were “brushed aside”.