IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i14p7595-d590044.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

University Students’ Perception, Evaluation, and Spaces of Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria: What Can We Learn for Post-Pandemic Educational Futures?

Author

Listed:
  • Tabea Bork-Hüffer

    (Institute of Geography, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Vanessa Kulcar

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Ferdinand Brielmair

    (Institute of Geography, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Andrea Markl

    (Institute of Geography, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Daniel Marian Immer

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Barbara Juen

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Maria Hildegard Walter

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Katja Kaufmann

    (Institute of Geography, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Institute for Comparative Media and Communication Studies, Austrian Academy of Sciences and University of Klagenfurt, 1010 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caught societies worldwide unprepared in 2020. In Austria, after a lockdown was decreed on 16 March 2020, educational institutions had to switch to a patched-up distance learning approach, which has been largely maintained to date. This article delivers empirical insights from an interdisciplinary mixed-methods research study that investigated university students’ perceptions of and experiences with distance learning as well as their educational (home) spaces during the pandemic in Innsbruck, Austria. It combines results from a quantitative survey conducted with 2742 students in early 2021 with a qualitative multi-method and longitudinal research study that accompanied 98 students throughout four data-collection phases in 2020. Results show a significant improvement since spring 2020 with both teachers and learners adjusting to the distance learning formats and the use of digital tools, yet students urgently desired a return to face-to-face teaching and university life, particularly for its social benefits. Strikingly, more than half of the participants wanted to maintain the option of overall distance education after the pandemic. Based on the perspectives of students, it is appropriate to demand significant changes in post-pandemic education adapted to the era of the post-digital, for which this article gives short-term as well as medium-term recommendations.

Suggested Citation

  • Tabea Bork-Hüffer & Vanessa Kulcar & Ferdinand Brielmair & Andrea Markl & Daniel Marian Immer & Barbara Juen & Maria Hildegard Walter & Katja Kaufmann, 2021. "University Students’ Perception, Evaluation, and Spaces of Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria: What Can We Learn for Post-Pandemic Educational Futures?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-25, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7595-:d:590044
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/7595/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/7595/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Amanda M. Y. Chu & Connie K. W. Liu & Mike K. P. So & Benson S. Y. Lam, 2021. "Factors for Sustainable Online Learning in Higher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Claudiu Coman & Laurențiu Gabriel Țîru & Luiza Meseșan-Schmitz & Carmen Stanciu & Maria Cristina Bularca, 2020. "Online Teaching and Learning in Higher Education during the Coronavirus Pandemic: Students’ Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-24, December.
    3. Walter Leal Filho & Luciana Londero Brandli & Amanda Lange Salvia & Lez Rayman-Bacchus & Johannes Platje, 2020. "COVID-19 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Threat to Solidarity or an Opportunity?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Johanna Andrea Navarro-Espinosa & Manuel Vaquero-Abellán & Alberto-Jesús Perea-Moreno & Gerardo Pedrós-Pérez & Pilar Aparicio-Martínez & Mª Pilar Martínez-Jiménez, 2021. "The Higher Education Sustainability before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Spanish and Ecuadorian Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, June.
    5. Aleksander Aristovnik & Damijana Keržič & Dejan Ravšelj & Nina Tomaževič & Lan Umek, 2020. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life of Higher Education Students: A Global Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-34, October.
    6. Katja Kaufmann & Christoph Straganz & Tabea Bork-Hüffer, 2020. "City-Life No More? Young Adults’ Disrupted Urban Experiences and Their Digital Mediation under Covid-19," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 324-334.
    7. Maria José Sá & Sandro Serpa, 2020. "The COVID-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity to Foster the Sustainable Development of Teaching in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    8. Nabil Hasan Al-Kumaim & Abdulsalam K. Alhazmi & Fathey Mohammed & Nadhmi A. Gazem & Muhammad Salman Shabbir & Yousef Fazea, 2021. "Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on University Students’ Learning Life: An Integrated Conceptual Motivational Model for Sustainable and Healthy Online Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, February.
    9. Lili-Ann Wolff, 2020. "Sustainability Education in Risks and Crises: Lessons from Covid-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-6, June.
    10. Luiz Antonio Joia & Manuela Lorenzo, 2021. "Zoom In, Zoom Out: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Classroom," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, February.
    11. Eduard Edelhauser & Lucian Lupu-Dima, 2020. "Is Romania Prepared for eLearning during the COVID-19 Pandemic?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-30, July.
    12. Iñigo Leon & Maialen Sagarna & Fernando Mora & Juan Pedro Otaduy, 2021. "BIM Application for Sustainable Teaching Environment and Solutions in the Context of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-29, April.
    13. Joshua Collado-Valero & Gemma Rodríguez-Infante & Marta Romero-González & Sara Gamboa-Ternero & Ignasi Navarro-Soria & Rocío Lavigne-Cerván, 2021. "Flipped Classroom: Active Methodology for Sustainable Learning in Higher Education during Social Distancing Due to COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bacci, Silvia & Fabbricatore, Rosa & Iannario, Maria, 2023. "Multilevel IRT models for the analysis of satisfaction for distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cathaysa Martín-Blanco & Montserrat Zamorano & Carmen Lizárraga & Valentin Molina-Moreno, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals: Achievements and Expectations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-25, December.
    2. Hanghun Jo & Eunha Shin & Heungsoon Kim, 2020. "Changes in Consumer Behaviour in the Post-COVID-19 Era in Seoul, South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Jangwan Ko & Seungsu Paek & Seoyoon Park & Jiwoo Park, 2021. "A News Big Data Analysis of Issues in Higher Education in Korea amid the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.
    4. María Alonso-García & Tamara María Garrido-Letrán & Alberto Sánchez-Alzola, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on Educational Sustainability. Initial Perceptions of the University Community of the University of Cádiz," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Luis M. Sánchez Ruiz & Santiago Moll-López & Jose Antonio Moraño-Fernández & Nuria Llobregat-Gómez, 2021. "B-Learning and Technology: Enablers for University Education Resilience. An Experience Case under COVID-19 in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Vasile Gherheș & Claudia E. Stoian & Marcela Alina Fărcașiu & Miroslav Stanici, 2021. "E-Learning vs. Face-To-Face Learning: Analyzing Students’ Preferences and Behaviors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Eva Blondeel & Patricia Everaert & Evelien Opdecam, 2021. "And Then There Was COVID-19: Do the Benefits of Cooperative Learning Disappear When Switching to Online Education?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, November.
    8. Fangfei Li & Tinghe Jin & Palitha Edirisingha & Xi Zhang, 2021. "School-Aged Students’ Sustainable Online Learning Engagement during COVID-19: Community of Inquiry in a Chinese Secondary Education Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-20, September.
    9. Başak Karakoç Öztürk, 2024. "A Mixed-Method Study on the Distance Education Process Experienced in the Faculties of Education," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(1), pages 21582440241, February.
    10. Yu Sun & Tzu-Hua Wang & Li-Fen Wang, 2021. "Implementation of Web-Based Dynamic Assessments as Sustainable Educational Technique for Enhancing Reading Strategies in English Class during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-13, May.
    11. Maja Batez, 2021. "ICT Skills of University Students from the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, February.
    12. Robert Tholen & Koen Ponnet & Guido Van Hal & Sara De Bruyn & Veerle Buffel & Sarah Van de Velde & Piet Bracke & Edwin Wouters, 2022. "Substance Use among Belgian Higher Education Students before and during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, April.
    13. Na Yu & Xiaolei Liu, 2024. "Online Dance Learning Satisfaction After the Pandemic: Lessons From the Crisis," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(1), pages 21582440241, January.
    14. Bárbara Galleli & Elder Semprebon & Joyce Aparecida Ramos dos Santos & Noah Emanuel Brito Teles & Mateus Santos de Freitas-Martins & Raquel Teodoro da Silva Onevetch, 2021. "Institutional Pressures, Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19: How Are Organisations Engaging?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, November.
    15. Andreea Barbu & Mirona Ana Maria Popescu & Georgiana Moiceanu, 2022. "Perspective of Teachers and Students towards the Education Process during COVID-19 in Romanian Universities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-21, March.
    16. Silvia Mariela Méndez-Prado & Ariel Flores Ulloa, 2022. "The Impact Analysis of Psychological Issues and Pandemic-Related Variables on Ecuadorian University Students during COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-23, October.
    17. Nadia Nandlall & Lisa D. Hawke & Em Hayes & Karleigh Darnay & Mardi Daley & Jacqueline Relihan & Joanna Henderson, 2022. "Learning Through a Pandemic: Youth Experiences With Remote Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    18. Jongseok Ahn, 2020. "Unequal Loneliness in the Digitalized Classroom: Two Loneliness Effects of School Computers and Lessons for Sustainable Education in the E-Learning Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-20, September.
    19. Roman, Monica & Plopeanu, Aurelian-Petruș, 2021. "The effectiveness of the emergency eLearning during COVID-19 pandemic. The case of higher education in economics in Romania," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    20. Savitha Basri & Iqbal Thonse Hawaldar & Raveendranath Nayak & Habeeb Ur Rahiman, 2022. "Do Academic Stress, Burnout and Problematic Internet Use Affect Perceived Learning? Evidence from India during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7595-:d:590044. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.