Staff Experience of COVID: Creating a New Normal

What is the silver lining in the staff experience of COVID?

The Biomedical & Health Innovation, Information & Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials, Manufacturing & Fabrication ECPs together with the STEM College present to you, the second event in a series of three, where we will hear from four RMIT University academic staff talk about their lived experiences in the pandemic, what the return to campus has been like, and what they think the role of the university campus should be in the future.

The recent pandemic disrupted all aspects of life. After a two-year period of interruption, isolation, uncertainty, and instability where plans became statements of hope rather than expectation, staff and students at RMIT University have been returning to campus, hopefully on a permanent basis.

Some aspects of campus life are the same as in the pre-pandemic era, however many are not. These include the role and use of technology, frequency and length of campus attendance, transport, and security arrangements, and perhaps most importantly, staff perceptions, expectations, and experiences.

There has been much discussion on the negative consequences of lockdowns and isolation. This includes the lack of networking opportunities arising from informal contact and mental health issues relating to a lack of social interaction. In contrast, there has been comparatively little attention to the positive impact on the forced reassessment of university life necessitated by COVID-19. In particular, students and staff have had to engage more deeply and more routinely with digital tools, enabling greater opportunities for flexibility with study due to the lessened requirements for physical presence on campus. This leads to questioning the role of a university campus in post-pandemic times.

In other words, the key question is no longer what can be done online (or can't be done on campus) but what should be done online (or on campus).

Our first event in this series, addressed similar issues from a student perspective, Student Experience of COVID: What is the Silver Lining? A recording of the event, which was held on 17 May 2022, is here. A large number of questions were provided for the panel pre and during this event. The student panel has answered all the questions we didn't have time to address. Read those Q&As here (if you have problems accessing this, send an email to michelle.nicolo@rmit.edu.au).

 

This event

Staff experience of COVID: Creating a new normal will be hosted by Professor Kerryn Butler-Henderson, Director, Digital Health Hub with presentations by:

Professor Xavier Mulet, Director, Advanced Materials, Manufacturing & Fabrication ECP who will briefly talk about the new phase of the ECPs 2.0 and 

Distinguished Professor Magdalena Plebanski will brief the audience on upcoming BHI ECP events.

 

Our speakers

A Q&A Session will be held after the presentations.

Add a question that you would like to ask this panel when you register.

 

Event Organisers

This event is organised by the RMIT Digital Education Engagement Initiative – Prof James Harland, Distinguished Prof Magdalena Plebanski, Prof Matt Duckham, Prof Kerryn Butler-Henderson, Prof Xavier Mulet, Prof Michelle Spencer & Ms Michelle Nicolo. It is supported by the Biomedical & Health Innovation and the Information & Systems (engineering) ECPs.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information