ISSN: 2237-0722 Vol. 11 No. 3 (2021) Received: 23.04.2021 – Accepted: 13.05.2021 697 Collaborative Learning and Communication Skills in Virtual Environments in Times of Pandemic Cinthia Catherine Bañez Benites 1* ; Jessica Paola Palacios Garay 2 ; Jorge Luis Escalante Flores 3 1* Universidad Nacional Mayor De San Marcos, Perú. 1* cinthia.banez@unmsm.edu.pe, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0771-4167 2 Universidad Nacional Mayor De San Marcos, Perú. 2 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2315-1683 3 Universidad De Lima, Perú. 3 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4942-5283 Abstract The coronavirus continues to ravage the world; humanity has had a preview of many changes in all areas; one of them was in education where most countries, under pressure from the pandemic, were forced to move to a distance education model where direct interaction is not possible and didactic methodologies must be innovated to achieve the development of university student competencies. In this study, the concepts are presented and collaborative learning is analyzed in relation to communicative skills as important aspects for the achievement of competencies, the development of the student in the virtual communication process and the social relationships that generate new ways of learning. Keywords: Collaborative Learning, Communication Skills, Virtual Environments, Higher Education. 1. Introduction The world is living one of the most critical stages with the outbreak of covid-19, this virus that continues to shake health, society, economy and education. This pandemic scenario forced many countries to change the face-to-face modality to an emergency model: remote education; consequently, it brought to light the unpostponable need for an educational reform supported by new information and communication technologies (NICT). In this sense, students have transformed their experiences in social and collaborative relationships thanks to NICTs.