As SUSTech adapts to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the international community had to adjust to teaching and taking classes online. With our international faculty and teaching staff returning to SUSTech to undergo their 14 days of self-isolation or quarantine, while others remain in their home countries, we spoke to a few of them to see how they are dealing with learning in this new educational paradigm.

Istvan Zsombo (’22) is better known to Steve by the SUSTech community and is from Hungary in central Europe. He opted to stay on campus over Chinese New Year and is one of the few international students on campus at this time. He spoke about the challenges he has experienced being away from home, continuing his studies and the support he has received from the SUSTech community.

At the time of our interview, Steve had not yet declared a major, as he is preparing to select one at the beginning of the next academic year. However, he has remained in close contact with his tutor at Shuren College. The two of them discussed Steve’s study plan for the semester, while also agreeing to study Mathematics for his degree. He has worked closely with his tutors and other educators on campus.

Being one of the few students remaining on campus, he was left mostly to his own devices so he could concentrate on his academic pursuits. The staff and faculty were highly supportive of him during this time, ensuring that he remained healthy and checking his temperature regularly. They would also help him get masks, fruit, and other supplies to support his health. In all, the SUSTech community has left him feeling safe.

SUSTech Global, the department that looks after the undergraduate students from abroad, has played a vital role in ensuring his safety on campus. Their consistent communication over the last two months with all international students, both on and off-campus, has ensured a clear understanding of the rules affecting students.

In his early years

There was considerable coordination between departments, so there was never any panic around campus. With that in mind, the campus was mostly the same, just very quiet and tranquil. As dining venues and shops slowly open up, Steve sees hope on the horizon and is looking forward to seeing his classmates back on campus soon. He has not spent any time off-campus during the outbreak but believes that he had not needed to leave campus anyway.

He has received plenty of support from the teachers and the campus staff. Steve has been an independent young man since high school, so he has managed his arrangements for over five years. They have ensured that his life on campus has been an environment that is conducive to living and education.

When it comes to learning online while being on campus, Steve is taking all elective courses this semester. He has found the Blackboard teaching platform to be an excellent communication tool for students and teachers alike, as every teacher is placing their course content, assignments, deadlines, and other relevant information there. His educators have been highly responsive, providing high-quality course materials.

Steve has found that he prefers pre-recorded classes as it allows him to review the material at his own pace. He has found that his productivity has increased significantly by jumping to material that is unfamiliar to him and focusing on it. This approach has seen him manage his time more efficiently and improve his comprehension of the materials by practicing challenging content.

Taken during a visit by a Hungarian delegation

Steve pointed out that self-discipline has been crucial during this period. Any question a student might ask has almost certainly been answered in popular bulletin boards or forums, or a research paper has already covered the topic. Students could do that research themselves in the time it takes to email a professor, so Steve believes that it is smarter to read more materials than simply request an answer.

Steve said that he had received detailed feedback on his assignments from the teaching assistants (TAs), which helped him learn from his mistakes. However, he would rather be in a class where he could ask questions in the moment. Steve has found that he has had to spend more time studying the material to understand the content, which has made it an excellent learning experience. It has made him an increasingly independent learner, which can only be a good thing.

Tips for online learning:

Read through the materials as often as you need to, to make sure that you understand what is being taught. Watching the lectures and reading the materials multiple times will help you absorb the content.

Take advantage of the pre-recorded videos to review content, and break up the lectures in ways that suit your learning methods. If certain times are better for your learning, watch the lectures at those times.