The role of higher education and research in addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for the future

Aim This paper examines whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped higher education research, management, and scholarly activity. It explores how academic research on pandemic-related issues unfolded, how research cultures and funding were affected, and how various higher education stakeholders responded during the first and second year of the crisis. The article further identifies challenges experienced by the sector and highlights opportunities and innovations that emerged in response to these disruptions. Method The study adopted a qualitative, exploratory approach using methodological triangulation. Data were drawn from 20 semi-structured interviews with university leaders, government officials, representatives of national research organisations, and members of COVID-19 advisory structures, and were supported by an analysis of peer reviewed publications produced during the pandemic period. The combined data sources enabled the examination of institutional responses, research trajectories, and stakeholder experiences across the higher education landscape. Findings The findings suggest that the pandemic catalysed a rapid reorientation of research agendas towards COVID-19-related topics, with significant growth in health and biomedical research. At the same time, researchers faced substantial constraints, including disrupted fieldwork, reduced access to infrastructure, funding uncertainties, and heightened workloads. While innovation accelerated in areas such as digital collaboration and interdisciplinary research, participants reported uneven institutional support and a marginalisation of social science research. The pandemic also intensified existing inequalities among researchers and students, with differential impacts across institutional contexts and disciplines, shaping patterns of research participation and output. Conclusion The study concludes that while higher education institutions demonstrated resilience and adaptability, participants consistently perceived research responses to the pandemic as being oriented towards the biomedical sciences. To strengthen preparedness for future crises, the paper recommends more balanced funding models, stronger integration of social sciences into crisis response strategies, and sustained institutional support for inclusive and innovative research cultures.