Impacts of Pandemic among Private University Students in Southeastern Philippines: Insights for Educational Sustainability in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced a paradigm shift in Philippine higher education. Educational institutions were challenged and impacted, compelling them to restrict physical interactions and transition to flexible learning modalities. This study investigates the impacts of COVID-19 on the education of private university students in the Davao Region, Southeastern Philippines. One hundred eighty-eight students participated in the survey via Google Forms, which was later analyzed using descriptive statistics. From them, a selected few were also invited to participate in qualitative inquiries to obtain an in-depth understanding of the problem under study. Although internet connectivity challenges emerge as a significant impediment, students prefer synchronous lectures and video conferences as learning modalities. Most of them are anxious, dealing with mental health and study habit issues. Interestingly, some respondents revealed that the pandemic positively impacted their lives. Students’ adaptive and creative skills helped them cope with the challenges of the new learning modalities. The administrators and faculty members may benefit from these findings in formulating online learning policies and teaching-learning strategies. These findings are helpful baseline to ensure educational sustainability during and after the health crisis.

Keywords

• pandemic
• university students
• higher education
• philippines