Covid-19 and higher education: The Times They Are A'Changin INTRODUCTION

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the research and higher education sectors globally. The consequence of closure policies and other pandemic responses meant that primary, secondary, and tertiary education providers were forced to adapt their teaching and learning practices, many shifting to online platforms. Within the global Academy, Covid-19-related research was thrust into the public sphere while other research was deprioritised, delayed or cancelled. These various changes have implications for every corner of the teaching, learning and research triangle, and are one of the central foci of this special issue. With research and data from 16 countries and 5 continents, these articles explore the far-reaching impact of Covid-19 on higher education globally; accompanied also by a particular thread around lived experience, especially centring the voices of minoritised or marginalised members of the staff and student community. This is especially valuable given that understanding other countries' successful strategies in handling the pandemic can forge global solidarity and collective growth. Together these stories, woven into 18 research articles, provide a rich and expansive landscape from which to promote equity and better understand the needs of the people the Academy serves.