Comparing Pre- and Intra-Covid-19 students’ perception of the digitalization of higher education institutions

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are significantly progressing, especially to external affordances caused by Covid-19. Digital assets are an opportunity during the pandemic to secure social distance and enhance the students’ learning experience at the same time. Also, student administration might benefit from new digitally-enhanced opportunities. There is no uniform procedure for the use of digital media in teaching and student services. Thus, HEIs need to ascertain students’ attitudes toward the technologies used. To compare attitudes before and during the pandemic, we surveyed students about their perceptions. The first round of surveys was completed in a blended learning setting in fall 2019 before the global pandemic of Covid-19. The second round was conducted in an online learning setting in February 2021 after nearly one year of higher education under Covid-19. Our results show that students’ perceptions toward digitalization at HEIs differ in many aspects due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Students during the pandemic are more critical of the effects on their learning success. The study indicates that the adoption has taken place more quickly in the area of services. Still, teaching concepts and the learning culture lag behind.