This open access book explores the impact of Covid-19 on universities, and how students, staff, faculty and academic leaders have adapted to and dealt with the impact of the pandemic. Drawing on experiences from Britain, Australia and Sweden, it showcases how Covid has challenged routines and procedures in universities, and thrown them into a disarray of ever-changing events and short-term adaptations. The authors pay particular attention to how students, staff, faculty, and leaders have coped with Covid, through a series of autobiographical portraits of their strains but also heroic efforts in the harshest of circumstances.

This important book explores the exceptional ramifications of the pandemic but also how universities may contribute to a fairer and more robust society and concludes with a set of prescriptions for universities that aim to be proactive and resilient forces in society. It will be of interest to scholars interested in higher education, governance and organizational studies.

Through insightful analysis and compelling stories, this book provides an invaluable overview of the change that was always coming within higher education and the ways in which Covid effected the pace and delivery of that change. One, perhaps surprising, impact was the doubling down within universities on their social mission: not just in the development of vaccines and treatments, but also in the myriad ways staff, students and institutions supported community needs. This book asks what happens next, and argues that the ‘jolt’ of the pandemic could provide a vital opportunity to reset the contract between society and universities, ensuring that social purpose is embedded not only in mission statements, but in the strategies, governance and business models that translate words into action. 

Baroness Deborah Bull, Vice President Communities & National Engagement, King’s College London.

The effect of Covid19 on universities has demonstrated the clear societal relevance and responsibility of the higher education sector but also its shortcomings and inequalities. However, the global ‘experience’ we are undergoing also provides new opportunities to transform universities as key actors for a global sustainable societal development. A book like this one is of utmost importance as it provides high quality insights, valuable documentation, new analyses and reflections from stakeholders within and beyond universities. This will help guide universities to develop for the future, and to emphasize stronger respect for diversity, enhance their social responsibility, foster the academic values upon which to develop high quality HE - in particular academic freedom. Thanks for this contribution and support to the development of the universities of the future.

Emerita professor Pam Fredman, President of International Association of Universities (IAU) and former rector of the University of Gothenburg.

Crisis Response in Higher Education tellingly interrogates university responses to the Covid pandemic in Australia, Sweden and the UK to demonstrate incisively down at the level of the lived experience of students, faculty and administrators  how power works within the cultural nexus of university and societal governance. A major achievement! 

Professor Arthur Kleinman, former Head of Harvard University Asia Center. 

This book on the threat Covid has posed to universities internationally and their stratagems for adaptation and survival is an accomplished achievement. It stands out not just for its currency and the authors’ scholarly insights into the nature of power and politics in higher education and society, but for the reflections and experiences of those most directly affected by the Covid pandemic. A timely, engaging and important work.

Emeritus Professor Janice Reid AC, former Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Western Sydney. 

This is a timely and vital resource for anyone who wants to learn the lessons of the pandemic - both what we want to keep, and what we never want to do again

James Purnell, President & Vice-Chancellor, University of the Arts London

Deals with emerging and highly topical issues in university governance Of interest to both scholars in higher education and science studies, academics, and university administrators Uses international case studies, ensuring a truly global focus This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access

Open Access This book is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this book are included in the book's Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the book's Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.