Student-led task forces to drive change

SIX task forces have been set up to address various education-related issues, and leading the cause will be the Top 50 finalists of Chegg.org’s inaugural Global Student Prize, the winner of which will be announced next month.

These bright, young talents will lend universities, businesses, governments and international bodies the insights and varied perspectives of students from every continent.

The task forces, born out of the Global Student Summit hosted by the Varkey Foundation in partnership with Chegg.org, will focus on widening access to higher education, bridging the global digital divide, tackling student debt, supporting mental health, improving food security, and preparing students for the fast-changing job market.

The issues identified were based on findings from the Chegg.org Global Student Survey involving nearly 17,000 undergraduates across 21 countries.

According to the survey, two-thirds (66%) of Malaysian undergraduates polled have struggled with affording their living costs in the last year, 29% with food, 26% with rent or mortgage, 32% with utilities and 18% with medical bills.

Global Teacher Prize 2020 winner Ranjitsinh Disale, who is part of the judging panel for the Global Student Prize, hailed the launch of the task forces.

“I welcome the creation of these new task forces, which will put the student voice front and centre in addressing the challenges facing higher education in a post-Covid-19 world,” he said in a press release.

Ranjitsinh pointed out that the high cost of university puts it beyond the reach of poorer students, while the online solutions adopted by many universities are not available to all.

In addition, many students are struggling with the cost of living and with their mental health, he said.

“I urge universities, policymakers, businesses and all those with a stake in educating the next generation to listen carefully to these timely and vital calls to action,” he added.

Chegg.org head Lila Thomas said students from all over the world have shown tremendous strength, focus and determination in carrying on with their learning and fighting for their future.

“We must listen to their voices as we aim to help students thrive in the new educational environment left behind by the pandemic,” she said, adding that the Top 50 finalists will bring fresh thinking to take forward these calls to action and look for lasting solutions to the challenges faced by higher education.