Hybridity in Higher Education as Resilience to Crises, Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Since the 1990s, Nordic higher education (HE) has undergone significant reforms, integrating market-based elements with traditional academic values. This hybridisation was further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated digitalisation and remote work. The chapter discusses how these changes led to a blending of physical and digital services, creating a resilient framework for HE institutions (HEI s). The hybridisation process has been crucial in enabling HEI s to adapt to crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, economic challenges, and digitalisation. The chapter highlights the importance of resilience, defined as the ability to withstand and adapt to adverse conditions, in maintaining the core functions of HEI s. Overall, the chapter sets the stage for a comprehensive exploration of how hybridity and resilience mechanisms have shaped and will continue to shape the landscape of Nordic HE.