Covid-19 and online studies in higher educations: A case

study of Education Institutions of Pakistan

BY

Ali Hamza, Zahid Raza and Waseem Shahzad (Pakistan)

Submitted By:

Zahid Raza 2017-MBA(3.5)-515

Waseem Shahzad 2017-MBA(3.5)-525

Ali Hamza 2017-MBA(3.5)-540

Submitted To:

Dr. Rab Nawaz Lodhi

AUGUST 22, 2020

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
 Covid-19 and online studies in higher educations: A case study of Education
Institutions of Pakistan

Abstract
Pakistan like other countries is badly affected by COVID-19 a worldwide disease. It can
affect the education system of Pakistan. Universities of Pakistan transmitting the learning activates
to online learning, but the performance of the students is badly affected. This study investigated
the consequences of COVID-19 on higher education and overall performance of students. Data
has been collected through audio-recorded interviews and written comment-based interviews using
zoom application and google doc. The sample include post-graduate, graduate, under-graduate,
male and female students of the universities of Pakistan. The study identified 15 different results
of COVID-19 in higher education students of Pakistan. Internet problem, communication gap,
reduction in overall performance and late decision have been found to be the more critical results
of COVID-19. Furthermore, these consequences of COVID-19 can be divided into learning,
technological and administrative problems. It is concluded that COVID-19 has changed the
learning process of students in Pakistan irrespective of their field of study.

Keywords: COVID-19, Online study, Learning problems, Technological problems,

Administrative problems

Introduction
The Covid-19 pandemic threatening around the globe has caused large scale institutional
and behavioral unpleasant consequences in various areas of human activity including education.
The impact on learners is exceptional, on 9 April 2020, there are over 1,500,000,000 students
worldwide from primary to tertiary level who cannot attend school (Setiawan 2020). Pakistan like
many other countries is severely affected by COVID-19 a worldwide disease. It also affects the
education system of Pakistan. The unexpected and across-the-board closings, encouraged nations,
and networks that are forced to look for convenient solutions in various advanced learning stages
(Jandrić 2020).

Since March 2020, universities of Pakistan have been suffering an incomparable big shift
from conventional face to face classes education to online education. Due to widespread COVID‐
19 disease in Pakistan, the government of Pakistan requests to educational institutions to provide
nonstop teaching and learning. Mostly universities of Pakistan have started an online education.
Pakistan is a developing country there is no proper technological infrastructure that can deliver
students quality online education.

We know Pakistan is a developing country that stands facing many economic challenges
during the COVID-19 pandemic and due to scarce available resources university students face
many challenges towards online learning. Students are facing difficulties due to limited resources
(such as the internet, learning material, learning environment, and less expertise in using
technological communication software, etc.) which create complications such as lack of self‐
discipline, difficulties in the transition to physical to online classes, inappropriate learning
materials, unfitting good learning environments, technological acceptability issues like hardware,
communications software, and administration problems which makes psychological effects on
students such challenges minimize a good learning attitude, which declines their overall learning
performance of students.

Therefore, this paper objective to identifies the consequences of COVID-19 on online

studies of higher education students and provides a case study for the universities to consider
conducting online education in comparable circumstances which helps the universities to alleviate
effects on students by taking effective policy measures. The present study has employed qualitative
research methods to explore the COVID-19 consequences of online studies of Higher Education
students in the daily routines and overall performance of university students.

Research Objective
This study aims to determine

1. To investigate the consequences of Covid-19 on higher education of Pakistan.

2. To highlight the challenges and obstacles of online learning faced by higher education
students in Pakistan.
3. To explore the outcomes of the online system on the learning of students.
4. To examine the consequences of the online system on the overall performance of the
students.

Problem Statement
Pakistan like other countries is badly affected by Covid-19 a worldwide disease. It can
desperately affect the education system of Pakistan. Universities of Pakistan transmitting the
learning activates to online learning, but the performance of the students is severely affected.

Significance of The Study

This study is important in that it provides information to the University of Engineering and
Technology Lahore to step up its preparedness to contain effects of COVID-19 on the online
education systems to alleviating effects on students by taking effective policy measures.

Literature Review
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan gave instructions to universities to
start distance learning (DL) classes and reorganize the current exams to help out their students in
online regular classes until the COVID-19 pandemic emergency stays unchanged (Adnan and
Anwar 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic has a serious consequence on students, professors, and
educational organizations around the world just like other aspects of human activities (Adnan and
Anwar 2020).
 Online education is offered by many institutions and facing significant two problems. The
first one is from a broad perspective in which the effects and efficacy of online education are
surprisingly formed (Liguori and Winkler 2020).The Second the capacity to successfully teach
digitally is probably going to differ based on the variety of learning goals that guide our
instructional and educational necessities (Liguori and Winkler 2020). Traditional classroom social
interaction with each other is another major lacking in online learning. Students only communicate
with their class fellows digital means and never see fellow students face to face and sharing of
ideas, knowledge, and information in real-time to some extent is lost due to online learning (Chen,
Liu et al. 2020).

Online education is often useful in technologically advanced countries (Basilaia and

Kvavadze 2020) but on the other hand in Pakistan it is ineffectual. In Pakistan still a big deal of
learning and teaching also administrative activities of institutes are managed manually (Aristovnik,
Keržič et al. 2020). Due to limited access to high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet networks
services which makes the process of online learning difficult especially for those who are living in
rural backward areas and also overlooked communities of Pakistan (Wains and Mahmood 2008).

The educational institutions' and students' capability and responsiveness toward quick
change to participate in online learning are affected by limited access and availability of fast
internet and deficiency of latest technologies (Wang, Cao et al. 2020) and improper interaction
between instructors and students is another major problem which is associated with online
learning.

Move easily from a situation of regular education to distance and virtual learning could not
occur over the night. This quick change is connected to different limitations and difficulties at this
time (Crawford, Butler-Henderson et al. 2020).Nobody knows when this Covid-19 pandemic will
end permanently so governments and educational institutes across the globe chosen to use the
already available technological resources to produce online learning material for students of all
academic disciplines (KAUR 2020).This was not only happened the first time in history when
traditional education activities were postponed. SARS coronavirus (SARSCOV) adversely
affected traditional education activities of many countries and not just SARS COVID-19 but the
H1N1 Flu outbreak also negatively affected education activities in 2009 (Dunn 2020). Likewise,
Covid-19 forced educational experts to reconsider the traditional way of learning and then they
started considering distance online learning as a possible choice to fill the classroom void for
duration of three to four months and also help to reduce the risk of infection dispersion in students
before traditional routines are resumed (KAUR 2020).

The closure of universities because of emergencies if it sustained too long may cause
psychological suffering and misery at various levels of daily life (Aristovnik, Keržič et al. 2020).
Due to the limited resources for higher education in Pakistan (Abbas, Ahmed et al. 2017) and no
special funds are given for the latest technologies and virtual initiatives in the education division
(Kayani 2005).
 Ali and Ahmad (2011) concluded that just like traditional learning there is reasonable
interaction in online education between teachers and students. The content is well-planned and up
to date and the teachers are dedicated and trained with the skills and own the required knowledge.
The current situation is unique from the normal learning programs, where all higher education
institutions across Pakistan are forced to implement online learning policies regardless of limited
resources and funds. The study conducted by (Almanthari, Maulina et al. 2020) recommended that
student's opinions are important on these online education issues therefore future research should
investigate student's opinions about online learning to investigate the challenges faced by students.
More research is necessary to explore the challenges of using e-learning that prevents students
from accomplishing their learning aspirations.

Conceptual Framework

Figure-1

Figure-1 shows the conceptual model for this study. This model shows that the consequences of
covid-19 on online studies of higher education students and which creates technological,
administrative, and psychological problems. The model also shows that these results of online
learning reduce overall performance of the students.

Propositions
• COVID-19 influence education system of Pakistan.
• Different learning problems influence the education system in COVID-19 situation.
• Different technological problems influence the education system in COVID-19
situation.
• Different administrative problems influence the education system in COVID-19
situation.
Methodology
Research study is exploratory and qualitative in nature and based on interpretivism paradigm
because the purpose of this study to explore different consequences of covid-19 on higher
education and higher students online learning. Case study method is employed in this study.

Interview Protocol
The interview protocol initially comprised thirteen semi-structured questions

• Why your university transform study activities?

• How COVID-19 affect Your semester duration?

• How COVID-19 affect your degree duration?

• Did you face any difficulty when you take online classes?

• Did you face any difficulty during an online quiz or exam?

• What problems did you face during the online study? ( internet, computer, network
distortion, face to face communication, headphone, camera, mark attendance, etc).

• Do you feel that online study is less productive than physical study?

• study loads are reduced or increased in the online study?

• Your teachers explain better than physical classes?

• Did you understand everything that your teacher teaches you during online classes?

• Did your university properly inform you about the happenings in university?

• Does your university administration handle your problems in an online system?

• Does your university properly inform you about any instruction in the online system?

Data Collection:
Method:
Two different methods have been utilized for the collection of data in this study. Firstly,
data has been collected from students of universities, interviews in narrative form because open
ended questions regarding the consequences of COVID-19 and online study have been asked.
Secondly, written comment-based interviews have been conducted using “Google Doc”. Within
one week 10 interviews from post-graduate, graduate and under-graduate students are conducted.
Using NVivo 12 interviews are used in this study.
Sample:
The sample includes 10 students of postgraduate, graduate and undergraduate. The sample
also includes male & female students. Figure-2 shows that 7% of the sample are post-graduate,
50% are graduate and 43% are under-graduate. Figure-3 shows that 60% males and 40% Females.

Data Analysis
NVivo 12 has been used for employing different qualitative data analysis techniques
including transcribing of audio recorded interviews, thematic analysis, coding of data and words
frequency analysis techniques. NVivo Text Analysis features help to identify themes and explore
the use of language in the project. Text search query is used for checking themes or exploring
people ways of talking about a particular concept. Different graphs including hierarchy map, have
been used to express the findings and their interpretation. Word frequency, text search and metrics
coding queries have been applied to explore the less or more critical consequences of COVID-19
and online study on higher education students in Pakistan.
Figure-4 shows the Word Cloud. Word Cloud show the different themes in different sizes
according to their repetition frequency. Word Cloud is useful while doing thematic analysis
because we can identify more themes through word cloud diagram. In Figure-7 different themes
like “lack of motivation” “communication gap” “internet problem” “reduction in overall
performance” and “transmission to online study”.
Figure-5&6 shows Word Tree. Word Tree shows the connections of a central word with
different pattern of talk. The central word is “COVID-19” AND “Online study” in this query.
Word Tree Map is used in exploring new themes along with their relation with other themes.

Result findings
Consequences of COVID-19 and Online Study in Higher Education – Hierarchy Map
Figure-7, Figure-7(a,b and c) shows Hierarchy Map that shows the extent of the different
consequences of COVID-19 and online study. Figure-7 shows transmission to online study,
internet problems, voice distortion, lack of motivation, communication gap, lack of supervision,
unsuitable learning environment, lack of physical activities and late decision and reduction in
overall performance as more critical results of COVID-19 and online study. Because numbers of
references to these themes are more as compared to other results of COVID-19 and online study.
However, lack of online portal, lack of communication and unknown to technology have been
identified as less critical results of COVID-19 and online study while typing speed, camera
problems and training have been found as less effecting result of COVID-19 and online study
because the numbers of responses towards identification of these factors are less as compared to
other consequences of COVID-19 and online study.

Respondent-wise identification of various consequences of COVID-19 and online study is

displayed in table-1. Table-1 shows respondents and numerous results of COVID-19 and online
study in matrix form which shows the responses of different respondents towards every issue
known during this study i.e., “Lack of motivation” has been identified by R2, R3 R4, R6, R7, R9
and R10.
Relationship of COVID-19 and Online Study in Higher Education
The results of this study is divided into transition to online study, learning problems, technological
problems and administrative problems. These relationships have been explore through the
responses of respondents in this study. Lack of supervision, lack of motivation, communication
gap, unsuitable learning environment, lack of practical activities are categorized as learning
problems. Internet problems, voice distortion, unknown to technology, camera, typing speed is
classified as technological problems. Lack of communication, late decisions, training and lack of
online portal is labeled as administrative problems whereas transition to online study and reduction
in overall performance have their separate heads.

Conclusion
This study identified consequences of COVID-19 and online study on higher education
students of Pakistan. Data has been collected through audio recorded interviews and written
comment-based interviews using the “Zoom App” and “Google Doc” from university students of
Pakistan. NVivo 12 has been used for applying different qualitative data analysis. The study
identified 15 different factors which are the results of COVID-19 and online study in higher
educations in Pakistan. Based on findings, it can be concluded that COVID-19 and online study
change the learning process for the higher education students of Pakistan. All students are suffering
including post-graduation, graduation and under-graduation. Students cannot understand the
lectures effectively; teachers cannot deliver their lectures effectively. There are many problems
that students face during online study i.e. internet, voice distortion, communication gap, lack of
supervision, lack of motivation and class disciple. COVID-19 is badly affecting both the students
and overall education system of Pakistan.

Limitation
This research is limited to University of Engineering and Technology Lahore campus due
to time constraints. This research only focusses on limited students sample due to accessibility
issue during Covid-19 pandemic. In future researches should either increase the sample size. As
the results are only based on students' perspective, the inclusion of faculty opinions in future
studies might help in understating the issues faced by instructors about online education

Future Direction
This study has established the potential impact of COVID-19 on this year’s Education for
Higher Education Students if its effects prolong. It is hoped that other researcher will consider
examining the potential impact of COVID-19 on educational planning at national level. Other
studies could focus on how COVID-19 threatens future funding on education by multilateral
organizations that take part in providing educational funds to developing countries.

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Appendix
Descriptive statistics, Education

Education

7%
Postgraduate
43%
Graduate
50% Undergraduate

Figure-2

Descriptive statistics, Gender

Gender

40% Male
60% Female

Figure-3
Word Cloud

Figure-4

Word Tree

Figure-5
Word Tree

Figure-6
Hierarchy Map’s

Figure-7
Figure-7(a)

Figure-7(b)

Figure-7(c)
Matrix

Table-1