Will interfaces take over the physical workplace in higher education? A pessimistic view of the future – Publication by Dóra Horváth, Tamás Csordás, Katalin Ásványi, Julianna Faludi, Attila Cosovan, Attila Endre Simay and Zita Komár 

Abstract: 

Purpose 

The purpose of this paper is to argue for the sustained need for the physical workplace and real-life encounters in higher education even in the digital age despite being seemingly transformable into the virtual sphere as seen during the COVID-19 situation. 

Design/methodology/approach 

This study is based on a collaborative autoethnography by a group of seven higher educators with an overall 2,134 student encounters during the study’s time span. The authors then connect these practitioner observations with relevant COVID-19-related studies thereby adding to research on higher education as a workplace. 

Findings 

The data suggest that the physical workplace strongly bolsters the personal experience and effectiveness of higher education through contributing to its dynamics. Spaces predetermine the scope and levels of human interaction of teaching and learning. In a physical setting, all senses serve as mediators, whereas, online, only two senses are involved: vision and hearing. The two-dimensional screen becomes a mediator of communications. In the physical space, actors are free to adjust the working space, whereas the online working space is limited and defined by platforms. 

Practical implications 

Although higher education institutions may indeed fully substitute most practices formerly in a physical setting with online solutions, real-time encounters in the physical working space belong to its deeper raisons d’être. 

Originality/value 

This paper highlights the necessity of the physical workplace in higher education and describes the depriving potential of the exclusively online higher education teaching setting. 

Source: emerald.com

Dr. Horváth Dóra dora.horvath@uni-corvinus.hu Rektori Szervezet / Marketing- és Kommunikációtudományi Intézet / Marketing- és Designkommunikáció Tanszék

Habilitált egyetemi docens / Habilitated Associate Professor
E épület, 335
Phone: +36 1 482 5141 • Ext: 5141

CV

Dr. Csordás Tamás Viktor tamas.csordas@uni-corvinus.hu Rektori Szervezet / Marketing- és Kommunikációtudományi Intézet / Marketing- és Designkommunikáció Tanszék

Egyetemi Adjunktus / Assistant Professor
E épület, 337
Phone: +36 1 482 5390 • Ext: 5390

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Dr. Ásványi Katalin katalin.asvanyi@uni-corvinus.hu Rektori Szervezet / Fenntartható Fejlődés Intézet / Fenntarthatósági Menedzsment és Környezetgazdaságt

Tanszékvezető egyetemi docens / Head of Department, Associate Professor
C épület, 305
Phone: +36 1 482 7249 • Ext: 7249

CV MTMT

Faludi Julianna julianna.faludi@uni-corvinus.hu Rektori Szervezet / Marketing- és Kommunikációtudományi Intézet / Marketing- és Designkommunikáció Tanszék

Egyetemi Docens / Associate Professor
E épület, 333
Phone: +36 1 482 5649 • Ext: 5649

CV

Dr. Cosovan Attila Róbert attila.cosovan@uni-corvinus.hu Rektori Szervezet / Marketing- és Kommunikációtudományi Intézet / Marketing- és Designkommunikáció Tanszék

Egyetemi Tanár / Professor
E épület, 335
Phone: +36 1 482 5141 • Ext: 5141

CV LinkedIn MTMT https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosovan_Attila https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designkommunik%C3%A1ci%C3%B3