Lecturer Carmen Carrillo from the Faculty of Education believes that post-pandemic education will be based on a hybrid learning model, incorporating both classroom and online teaching. It will draw on the possibilities offered by technology to provide learners with a more personalised experience by integrating artificial intelligence.  In this regard, she stressed that “it is more important than ever before that professionals train continuously and are able to adapt in order to remain relevant”, and that higher education institutions “must also adapt their training models to suit new labour market needs and continue adding value to society”. Dr Carrillo also stressed the need for “teacher support and the utmost respect for the teaching profession, since teachers are the lever of change that education needs”.

A specialist in online education and teacher training, Carmen Carrillo explained that until now, teacher training has placed more emphasis on “preparing teachers to teach in classroom settings”. However, she believes that teachers need access to resources that will help them acquire the skills they need to adapt to teaching models based on hybrid or online education, and which allow teachers to operate in other settings beyond those that are strictly face-to-face.