Remote teaching will help shape the way the world thinks about and discusses online education moving forward, and perhaps even influence the decisions that are made for classroom teaching, according to Yale University president Peter Salovey. "We could discover new ways of teaching such as using a blend of online and in-person classes, which would lower the financial burden for some students or provide additional opportunities to gain professional experience while students remain full time," he said.

The event, Special Dialogue: Online Education in the COVID-19 Response and Beyond, recognized the extraordinary challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has presented in the field of education and explored solutions to the challenges, particularly those regarding higher education. It offered a platform for worldwide educators to embark on an in-depth discussion on various topics including the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of higher education, university response case studies and experiences, and immediate solutions for affected countries.

Education experts, university presidents, professors, faculty members, and education policy advisers from 21 universities in 15 countries across six continents shared experiences and observations in online education from their respective regions, and also provided emergency solutions for online education policies and models during the temporary closure of worldwide educational institutions.

"Universities are the lighthouse of human civilization. Facing such a grave challenge that concerns the future, universities must shoulder the due responsibilities," Qiu Yong said.