The Impact of the Pandemic (COVID-19) on Higher Education Students: Challenges, Adaptations, and Future Perspectives

Abstract

In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), leading to the implementation of restrictive protective measures. Building on this issue, this article aims to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education students, addressing the challenges faced, adaptations made, and future perspectives. To achieve this, the strategies adopted by educational institutions were explored, such as the transition to remote learning, the difficulties encountered by students in this new format, and prospects, including hybrid teaching models and the importance of developing digital skills. The research employed an inductive method of historical and bibliographic procedures, collecting data from books, journals, reports, and online sources to demonstrate the relevance and urgency of understanding the pandemic's impacts on higher education students. This study is justified by the unprecedented challenges brought about by COVID-19 for higher education institutions, which had to adapt to ensure the continuity of education rapidly. Understanding the adopted strategies and the difficulties faced by students contributes to improving educational practices in the face of future disruptive events, aiming to ensure quality and accessible education for all students.

Slovenian Higher Education in a Post-Pandemic World: Trends and Transformations

“…Amid the recent pandemic, employees within the HE sector experienced a significant transformation in their digital work landscape [3,4,6]. In response to the closure of physical campuses and the need to adhere to social distancing regulations, institutions swiftly transitioned to remote and online teaching, administrative functions, and student support services [3].…”

“…COVID-19 research has indicated that the abrupt transition to remote work presented numerous obstacles, including work disruptions, socio-economic hardships such as job loss, and adverse effects on mental health, such as stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation during the pandemic [2][3][4][5][6][7]. Many workers experienced notable changes in their overall digital engagement amid the COVID-19 crisis [8,9].…”

“…In higher education, remote work emerged as the digital remedy to sustain the continuity of learning and teaching activities [3,11]. Nevertheless, the encountered challenges were commonplace, encompassing technological hurdles (about institutional ICT resources and capacity), individual obstacles (related to technological proficiency), and difficulties in learning and teaching (such as fostering student engagement and collaborative efforts) [6]. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of online and blended learning modalities, prompting educators to rethink traditional pedagogical approaches.…”

“…The rapid shift to online learning during the pandemic underscored the importance of digital technologies in higher education. Institutions invested heavily in educational technology infrastructure, including learning management systems, video conferencing tools, and online assessment platforms [2][3][4]6,12]. There was a focus on leveraging emerging technologies to enhance teaching and learning outcomes [13].…”