STEM vs non-STEM differences in university teaching and research during the COVID-19 pandemic: the case of Sri Lanka

T. de Silva and Vathsala Wickramasinghe ()
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T. de Silva: University of Moratuwa
Vathsala Wickramasinghe: University of Moratuwa

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Abstract: This research aims to explore differences between STEM and non-STEM disciplines in terms of the changes to teaching and research practices caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The paper analyses survey responses collected between July and November 2020 from 241 academics (excluding library staff) from the five oldest state universities in Sri Lanka. The analysis focuses on differences between STEM and non-STEM faculty using multiple linear regression to control for demographic characteristics such as age, gender and designation as well as university specific factors. The paper finds significant differences in the teaching practices of STEM and non-STEM academics, both in terms of preparation time for teaching as well as tools used for online delivery. Significant differences are also observed in research practices, with STEM faculty being significantly more likely to engage in research collaborations, obtain research funding, and be involved in more research projects. We do not find any evidence of the pandemic having differential impacts on research productivity between the broad disciplines. This research provides insights into differences between STEM and non-STEM disciplines in online teaching and research practices adopted since the onset of the pandemic, which are important for formulating appropriate policy responses to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on both students and staff. The contribution is particularly significant for developing countries where the creation of a skilled workforce is a key driver of the development process.

Keywords: Emergency remote education; University teaching; Academic labor; Pandemic resilience; Faculty adaptation; Digital pedagogy; Academic work practices; Academic research; Remote teaching; Gender role; Gender studies; Higher education; Research productivity; STEM vs. non-STEM differences; Online learning; COVID-19 pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-05483933v1
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Published in International Journal of Educational Management, 2022, ⟨10.1108/IJEM-07-2021-02721⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05483933

DOI: 10.1108/IJEM-07-2021-02721

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