MANAGING EDUCATION DURING THE CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY: THE CASE OF A POLISH HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION

Due to the threat posed by COVID-19, most higher education institutions in Europe have opted to switch to online remote courses and smart working with a view to keeping their students and university staff safe during the current pandemic emergency.Face-to-face classes, including labs and workshops, have been canceled and substituted with online activities wherever possible, and new administrative procedures have even been established to support these radical changes.This article will analyze these changes in the light of a case study research conducted at the University of Social Sciences in Poland.The primary objective was to conduct an exploratory examination of the learning management issues that have emerged from the forced distance learning activities adopted to minimize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.The secondary objective was to gather testimonies regarding the impact that the imposition of smart working has had on the university staff.From the research activity, some significant elements emerged that have stimulated a deeper reflection on the use of digital technology in higher education