A University College Working in the Midst of the War in Sudan Through Digital Education

Abstract

The war in Sudan started on April 15, 2023 and has already caused the displacement of more than 14 million persons and the destruction or relocation of more than 120 higher education institutions. This article describes the experience of a university College in that country that had to carry out a forced digital transition to make the continuity of its academic activities possible in the midst of a civil war. The study presents the process Comboni College of Science and Technology followed to resume activities starting from the assessment of the feasibility of the operation with challenges such as the connectivity of students and lecturers to the internet, the financial limitations to pay academic fees, limited digital skills, psychological stress, the lack of a safe home and the mobility provoked by the evolvement of the conflict. In a second moment, the study assesses the satisfaction of the students with the learning experience and compares the results with those of a previous online period of study of the same institution during the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of the limitations of the context and the fact that the students prefer the face-to-face learning experience to the online one, they express their satisfaction with the decision to continue studies via the Learning Management System as this way will allow them to complete their degree in the midst of the war. The study also reveals the importance of virtual tutoring to bridge the lack of digital skills and support the students in a very adverse context.