Student Blog: Back to School: University Life is Back to Normal

In February 2023, college life finally returned to normal. Since 2020, many universities in Korea had conducted online-based university classes. In addition to the entrance ceremony and graduation ceremony, many activities such as student autonomy activities and clubs were conducted online. Therefore, students had no choice but to communicate in an online environment such as a video conference program such as Zoom.

In the first semester of 2022, it was gradually getting out of the pandemic, but many Korean schools were implementing basic sanctions such as wearing masks and restricting group activities. And in the second semester, although we all wore masks, we were able to do more face-to-face activities than before. As such, the school gradually attempted to conduct offline university classes and events from 2022.

And finally, in February 2023, we are able to enjoy normal university life. In addition to our school, many universities in Korea held entrance ceremonies and graduation ceremonies offline. And before the start of the first semester in March, colleges are able to conduct various school programs offline for freshmen. The door of the student center was closed during the pandemic. But nowadays, the door is wide open and many clubs are recruiting new members one by one. The school is beginning to come alive. When did we experience this normal university life? it was 2019. And after 4 years later, now we are looking forward to normal university life. Then, how has the current school changed before and after the pandemic? I would like to examine this from the two points.

First, teaching methods are changed in a more efficient way.

The pandemic period was a time when both students and professors essentially agonized over the way the classes were taught. In the early days of the pandemic, doing offline classes was difficult. So all classes had to be conducted in online-based classes such as recorded video or real-time video conferencing. But classes that had to be conducted in an online environment had limitations. Because all classes conducted in universities had different characteristics. So in this process, the professor thought about how to deliver the knowledge in an effective way. Also, the students gave their opinions about the online-based class through a feedback system.

Through this, the professor and school improved the teaching method. And from the time the pandemic eased, the school conducted offline and online classes in a coexistent way. In particular, one of the differences from before is the possibility of running flexible class management. It was a hard way before the pandemic. But after the pandemic, there are two options: real-time online classes and offline classes. It made professors enable more flexible in class management according to the situation.

Second, there were some changes in restaurants around the university.

Before the pandemic, there were various restaurants around the university. Many students used it before and after class, and sometimes it became a meeting space for local residents. However, during the pandemic, all of the cafes and restaurants that students frequented and had a fairly long history were closed. In the case of restaurants around the school, because they are located near the school, they often mean more than just restaurants or cafes to students. Sometimes it was the place to make some fun memories with friends or the shelter to take some rest. Therefore, the closure of the restaurants used to leave students with regret.

However, since 2022, schools have conducted various activities such as classes and clubs based offline, and commercial districts around the school have gradually begun to revive. In particular, from the second semester of 2022(after September), the new restaurants and cafes began to enter empty buildings. Also, some restaurants extended the operation time. Nowadays, various restaurants are currently operating near the school, and some restaurants are preparing to operate in time for the start of the new semester in March.

In addition to these two changes, there have been many changes in school life before and after the pandemic. What is noteworthy ahead of the new semester in 2023 is that it has finally returned to its "daily life" where it can interact with various people in the university and engage in many offline activities. This is why school life in 2023 is expected through various positive changes that occurred after the pandemic.

Photo Credit: Eunsong Yang