Why have students become unmotivated? What is our role in addressing this issue? To answer this question, we first review the results of two surveys by the UNESCO Chair on Engineering Education. The first survey was conducted in 2018, right before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the second one took place after the pandemic began, and following a semester of remote learning. These surveys aimed to investigate the internal and external factors affecting student demotivation. As the pandemic subsided and classrooms reopened, demotivation has manifested in various ways, including decreased interest in attending in-person classes. In this new context, what role can professors play in restoring hope and motivation to students?
Keywords: COVID-19, engineering education, in-person learning, remote learning, teaching and learning, University of Tehran, UNESCO Chair, Hossein Memarian.
