This book critically examines the role of governments in promoting parity during and in post-pandemic education. This comes from the realisation that the pandemic has deepened the crisis by depleting the meagre resources that African countries might have devoted to ‘normative educational practices’ where those on the margins would have been pushed further behind while the privileged would have been further initiated into the cultural and capital flows of private schools and historically research-intensive institutions of higher learning. This has far-reaching implications for the education of underprivileged citizens, and education, particularly modes and modalities of delivery, has to be reimagined to subvert the challenges wrought by the pandemic. This book significantly bridges the gap between the pre-and post-COVID-19 pandemic pedagogical practices and the erstwhile modalities that have been resilient over time. The book focuses on ways to stave off pedagogical challenges that face countries as the global pandemic makes its mark.

The focus of this book is original research regarding the implementation of problem-based learning and pedagogies of play as active approaches to foster self-directed learning. With the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in mind, educational institutions need to rethink teaching and learning for the future. As such, active engagement can be encouraged, as evident in this book, where problem-based learning drives learning through real-world problems, while pedagogy of play focuses on innovative environments where the action of play and learning are integrated with the aim of developing SDL. The following are addressed in the chapters: an overview of problem-based learning and pedagogy of play, metaliteracy, playful problem-based learning tasks, computational thinking in game-based tasks and geometry, solving puzzles, applying LEGO®, using drama as the pedagogy of play and implementing educational robotics. The empirical research findings disseminated in this book aim to inspire academics in the research focus area of self-directed learning with active learning approaches in the school and tertiary classroom that hold affordances to enhance 21st-century skills. Active learning is an umbrella term for pedagogies that mainstream student engagement, such as problem-based learning, cooperative learning, gamification, role-play and drama. This scholarly book highlights various engaging pedagogies.

The outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to both developed and less developed local economies. The aim of the book is to uncover the best practises in responding to a pandemic from global perspectives, as well as from a trans-disciplinary point of view. Scholars from various spheres in arts, culture, education, health, environment, business and the public sector present their perspectives on the impacts, responses and consequences for local economies and communities. As a fundamental part of LED, the arts, culture, education, health, environment, business and the public sector domains were some of the hardest hit by the pandemic. The pandemic has certainly exposed the weaknesses of current development policies and calls for new, innovative measures in developing resilient local regions. This book will form an essential part of the development series of CENLED as it offers insight into how a global pandemic (COVID-19) impacted LED in the global North and Global South and the different responses from different spheres.

In the realm of higher education, the widening gap between academic curricula and the evolving demands of the global workforce is becoming an impending problem. Traditional educational models, while effective in imparting foundational knowledge, often struggle to equip students with the practical skills and competencies needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing job market. This disconnect between academia and industry expectations poses a significant obstacle for students and institutions alike, hindering their ability to adapt and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. Insights Into International Higher Education Leadership and the Skills Gap is a groundbreaking volume that offers a comprehensive solution to this pressing dilemma. Edited by Mustafa Kayyali and Bryan Christiansen, this book serves as a beacon for academic scholars seeking to bridge the divide between higher education leadership and the skills demanded by the modern workplace. Through a multifaceted exploration of visionary leadership, curriculum adaptation, and innovative teaching methodologies, this publication provides actionable insights and practical strategies for addressing the skills gap effectively.

The issue of social justice has been brought to the forefront of society within recent years, and educational institutions have become an integral part of this critical conversation. Classroom settings are expected to take part in the promotion of inclusive practices and the development of culturally proficient environments that provide equal and effective education for all students regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, and disability, as well as from all walks of life. The scope of these practices finds itself rooted in curriculum, teacher preparation, teaching practices, and pedagogy in all educational environments. Diversity within school administrations, teachers, and students has led to the need for socially just practices to become the norm for the progression and advancement of education worldwide. In a modern society that is fighting for the equal treatment of all individuals, the classroom must be a topic of discussion as it stands as a root of the problem and can be a major step in the right direction moving forward. Research Anthology on Instilling Social Justice in the Classroom is a comprehensive reference source that provides an overview of social justice and its role in education ranging from concepts and theories for inclusivity, tools, and technologies for teaching diverse students, and the implications of having culturally competent and diverse classrooms. The chapters dive deeper into the curriculum choices, teaching theories, and student experience as teachers strive to instill social justice learning methods within their classrooms. These topics span a wide range of subjects from STEM to language arts, and within all types of climates: PK-12, higher education, online or in-person instruction, and classrooms across the globe. This book is ideal for in-service and preservice teachers, administrators, social justice researchers, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in how social justice is currently being implemented in all aspects of education.

This timely book presents the latest scholarly research on the integration of Information Communications Technology (ICT) for enhanced STEM education in African schools and universities. Featuring critical discussion and illustration of key data-led arguments, this volume gives a comprehensive picture of the breadth, complexity, and diversity of issues present in different African countries. It highlights a diverse range of topics such as approaches to ICT integration, the use of digital technologies to support inquiry-based learning, teacher development, and contextual issues in ICT integration for STEM education. Chapters feature contributions and shared experiences from prominent science educators and researchers from across African regions, and demonstrate findings and reflections on emerging trends, pedagogical innovations, and research-informed practices on ICT integration in STEM education. Offering cutting-edge research on STEM and digital education in Africa, the book will appeal to researchers, postgraduate students, and scholars in the fields of STEM education, ICT education, digital education, and pedagogy.