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IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON LIFE OF HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS

Dear Student,

University of Ljubljana from Slovenia (with international academic partners) is carrying out the global survey Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life of Higher Education Students.

The questionnaire is based on and extending The European Students’ Union survey (2020) and targets higher education students - on what student life looks like during the COVID-19 pandemic, including teaching and learning, social contacts, as well as how students are coping with the situation emotionally.

Please, fill in this survey to help us understand the above aspects of your life. The participation in the study is completely voluntary and will also help us to create recommendations for policymakers and higher education institutions on how students can be supported in such crisis situations in different environments, such as economic, social, cultural, political and institutional.

It should take about 15 minutes to fill in the questionnaire divided to 7 sections. The answers submitted will be anonymous. The collected data will be used just for purposes of the survey.

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact Professor Aleksander Aristovnik, PhD, from University of Ljubljana: aleksander.aristovnik@fu.uni-lj.si.

By clicking on the Next page I hereby certificate that

I was informed on the voluntary and anonymous participation in this study;
I am at least 18 years old;
I am presently enrolled in a Higher Education Institution.

Deadline: 15 June 2020

Thank you in advance for participating in this study!

1. SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND ACADEMIC CHARACTERISTICS

In this part of the questionnaire we are interested in your socio-demographic and academic characteristics.

In which country do you study (in this semester)?

Please write the name of your institution (where you study in this semester).

(e.g. University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Public Administration)

Are you a citizen of the country in which you study?

Yes

What is your student status?

Full-time

Part-time

What level of study you are enrolled in?

Bachelor’s degree (1st level)

Master’s degree (2nd level)

Doctoral degree (3rd level)

Please indicate your main field of study.

Arts and Humanities (Hiistory and Archaeology , Languages and Literature, Philosophy, Ethics and Religion...)

Social Sciences (Business, Law, Educational Science, Sociology...)

Applied Sciences (Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Mechanical Engineering, Sport, Medicine, Health…)

Natural and Life Sciences (Electrical Engineering, Biotechnical, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics…)

Other (please specify)

How old are you (in years)?

What is your gender?

Male

Female

Gender diverse

I prefer not to say

2. ACADEMIC LIFE

In this part of the questionnaire we are interested in finding out how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your experiences with teaching and administrative support as well as your performance and expectations.

Have your on-site classes (those taking place in the location/campus of your study institution) been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

No, my on-site classes have not been cancelled.

Yes, my on-site classes have been cancelled.

Not applicable (e.g. I do not have classes this semester/term).

2.1 LECTURES

Since on-site classes were cancelled, the organization of lectures has changed. Below, several different forms of online lectures are listed. Please assess your level of satisfaction with each form. If you have no experience with particular form, please select “Not applicable”.


	Very dissatisfied	Dissatisfied	Neutral	Satisfied	Very satisfied	Not applicable
Online in real-time (videoconference)
Online with a video recording (not in real-time)
Online with an audio recording (not in real-time)
Online by sending presentations to students
Written communication (forums, chat, etc.)
Other (please specify):

Which of these forms of online lectures has been the most dominant?

Please select only one

Online in real-time (videoconference)

Online with a video recording (not in real-time)

Online with an audio recording (not in real-time)

Online by sending presentations to students

Written communication (forums, chat, etc.)

Other:

2.2 TUTORIALS/SEMINARS AND PRACTICAL CLASSES

Since on-site classes were cancelled, the organization of tutorials/seminars and practical classes has changed. Below, several different forms of online tutorials/seminars and practical classes are listed. Please assess your level of satisfaction with each form. If you have no experience with particular form, please select “Not applicable”.


	Very dissatisfied	Dissatisfied	Neutral	Satisfied	Very satisfied	Not applicable
Online in real-time (videoconference)
Online with a video recording (not in real-time)
Online with an audio recording (not in real-time)
Online by sending presentations to students
Written communication (forums, chat, etc.)
Other (please specify):

Which of these forms of online tutorials/seminars and practical classes has been the most dominant?

Please select only one

Online in real-time (videoconference)

Online with a video recording (not in real-time)

Online with an audio recording (not in real-time)

Online by sending presentations to students

Written communication (forums, chat, etc.)

Other:

2.3 SUPERVISIONS/MENTORSHIPS

Since on-site classes were cancelled, my supervisions/mentorship has been organized (please select ALL the answers that are true for you).

Multiple answers are possible

Via video-call

Via voice-call

Via e-mail communication

Via texting on social networks (Facebook messenger, Viber, WhatsApp, WeChat, etc.)

Not applicable (I had no supervisions/mentorships)

Other (please specify)

Which is your preferred method of online supervisions/mentorship?

Please select only one

Via video-call

Via voice-call

Via e-mail communication

Via texting on social networks (Facebook messenger, Viber, WhatsApp, WeChat, etc.)

Not applicable (I had no supervisions/mentorships)

Other (please specify)

2.4 ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Please rate your agreement with the following statements. Since on-site classes were cancelled, my lecturers:


	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly agree	Not applicable
have provided course assignments (e.g. readings, homework, quizzes) on a regular basis.
have provided feedback on my performance on given assignments.
have responded to my questions in a timely manner.
have been open to students’ suggestions and adjustments of online classes.
have informed me on what exams will look like in this new situation.

On average, compared to the workload before on-site classes were cancelled, would you say that your study workload over the last weeks has been:

2.5 SATISFACTION WITH TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Since on-site classes were cancelled, how satisfied have you been with the organization of:


	Very dissatisfied	Dissatisfied	Neutral	Satisfied	Very satisfied	Not applicable
lectures.
tutorials/seminars and practical classes.
supervisions (mentorships).

Since on-site classes were cancelled, how satisfied have you been with support of:


	Very dissatisfied	Dissatisfied	Neutral	Satisfied	Very satisfied	Not applicable
teaching staff.
technical support or IT services.
student affairs office.
finance and accounting.
international office.
library.
public relations (websites and social media information).
tutors.
student counseling services.

2.6 STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND EXPECTATIONS

In view of the new teaching and learning environment, to what extent do you agree with the following statements.


	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly agree	Not applicable
It is more difficult for me to focus during online teaching in comparison to on-site teaching.
My performance as a student has improved since on-site classes were cancelled.
My performance as a student has worsen since on-site classes were cancelled.
I have adapted well to the new teaching and learning experience.
I can master the skills taught in class this year even on-site classes were cancelled.
I can figure out how to do the most difficult classwork since on-site classes were cancelled.

3. INFRASTRUCTURE AND SKILLS FOR STUDYING FROM HOME

In this part of the questionnaire, we are interested in whether you have the conditions to study from home.

In your home, do you have access to the following?


	Never	Rarely	Sometimes	Often	Always
A quiet place to study
A desk
A computer
Required software and programmes
A printer
Headphones and microphone
Webcam
Office supplies (notebooks, pens, etc.)
A good internet connection
Course study material (e.g. compulsory and recommended literature)
Other (please specify)

To what extent do you agree with the following statements about your computer skills. I am confident in:


	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly agree
browsing online information.
sharing digital content.
using online teaching platforms (BigBlueButton, Moodle, Blackboard, GoToMeeting, etc.).
using online collaboration platforms (Zoom, MS Teams, Skype, etc.).
using online communication platforms (e-mail, messaging, etc.).
using software and programmes required for my studies.
applying advanced settings to some software and programmes.

4. SOCIAL LIFE

In this part of the questionnaire we are interested in finding out about your support network during the COVID-19 crisis.

How often have you communicated with the following people online since the COVID-19 pandemic online?


	Not at all	Two or three times a month	Once a week	Several times a week	Once a day	Several times a day
Close family member
More distant family member
Close friend
Someone I live with (e.g. roommate)
Neighbours
Colleague from my course
Lecturer
Administrative staff
Voluntary organizations
Social networks
Someone else (please specify)

For each of the following situations, please select who you would turn to first. If there are several people you are equally likely to turn to, please select the one you feel closest to. Who would you turn to first to?


	Close family member	More distant family member	Close friend	Someone I live with (e.g. roommate)	Neighbours	Colleague from my course	Lecturer	Administrative staff	Voluntary organizations	Social networks	Someone else	No one
Help you around your home if you were sick and had to stay in bed for a few days.
Be there for you if you felt a bit down or depressed and wanted to talk about it.
Talk about problems related to studying issues (lectures, seminars, practical work).
Talk about problems related to future education.
Talk about problems related to personal finances.
Talk about problems related to family and relationships.
Talk about problems related to professional career in the future.
Be there for you if you would like to talk about the COVID-19 crisis.

5. EMOTIONAL LIFE

In this part of the questionnaire we are interested in finding out how you have been feeling since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please rate to what extent have you felt the following emotions while attending your classes and studying and preparing for them since the outbreak of COVID-19 in your country.


	Never	Rarely	Sometimes	Often	Always
Joyful
Hopeful
Proud
Frustrated
Angry
Anxious
Ashamed
Relieved
Hopeless
Bored

6. LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES

In this part of the questionnaire we are interested in finding out whether you have some life circumstances (general and financial) that you are worried about in the context of your student life and what is your opinion regarding the support measures and changes made in behaviour since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

6.1 GENERAL CIRCUMSTANCES

How often you have worries about the following personal circumstances?


	A little of the time	Some of the time	A good part of the time	Most of the time	All of the time
Personal physical health
Personal mental health
Studying issues (lectures, seminars, practical work)
Future education
Personal finances
Family and relationship
Professional career in the future
COVID-19 or similar pandemic crisis in the future
Leisure activities (sports and cultural activities, parties, hanging out with friends, etc.)
Traveling abroad

6.2 FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

When you take into account your total monthly disposable income (before COVID-19 pandemic) would you say that you can pay the overall costs of your study (including living costs such as accommodation etc.)?

Have you had a paid job during the current academic year or were you planning on having a paid job during the current academic year?

Yes, I worked regularly this academic year.

Yes, I worked occasionally this academic year.

No, I have not worked this academic year but was planning to.

No, I have not worked this academic year and was not planning to work.

None of the above (please specify):

If you have been working or were planning to work, has this paid job been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:

Yes, I have lost the job permanently.

Yes, I have lost the job temporarily.

Yes, I have had a salary cut.

No, the job ended before the COVID-19 crisis.

No, I am still working.

None of the above (please specify):

What are your plans for September/October 2020?

Returning to full-time studies.

Already accepted a full-time job.

Still seeking a full-time job.

Other (please specify):

Do you pay tuition fees?

Yes

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic please indicate whether:

fee payment has remained the same at my institution.

my institution has reduced the amount of fees which need to be paid this term.

my institution has cancelled the payment of fees for this term.

my institution has introduced flexible ways of paying fees this term (e.g. in more instalments).

none of the above (please specify):

Do you receive a scholarship for your studies?

Yes

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic please indicate whether:

the amount of my scholarship has remained the same.

the amount of my scholarship has been reduced.

my scholarship has been cancelled.

payment of the scholarship has been postponed.

none of the above (please specify):

6.3 SUPPORT MEASURES AND BEHAVIOUR

Please assess the satisfaction in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic of the following institutions.


	Very dissatisfied	Dissatisfied	Neutral	Satisfied	Very satisfied	Not applicable
Government
University
Banks
Hospitals
Other (please specify):

How important are/will/would be the following actions or support measures by your government, university or by your bank to you?


	Not Important	Slightly Important	Moderately Important	Important	Very Important	Not applicable
Transport fares and passes are not required.
Freezing rents.
Financial assistance for renters.
Deferred or reduced mortgage payments.
Emergency supports for people on income assistance, disability assistance, and low-income seniors.
Monthly payments can be deferred up to 90 days and insurance renewals can now be done by phone or email.
Delayed tax filing deadline and due date for taxes owed.
Deferred student loan payments.
Emergency childcare for essential workers.
Delayed taxes.
Other (please specify):

Have you moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic (for example from student dorm to family home, etc.)?

Yes

Please assess the frequency of your habits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

	Before the COVID-19 pandemic					During the COVID-19 pandemic
	Never	Rarely	Sometimes	Often	Always	Never	Rarely	Sometimes	Often	Always
Washing your hands
Leaving the house for unnecessary reasons
Avoided crowds and large gatherings
Avoided touching your face
Shaking hands
Stocked up on essentials at pharmacy and grocery store
Made a plan for communicating with family friends and neighbours
Cancelled travel
Filled prescriptions
Worked from home
Avoiding public transport
Wearing a mask outside
Offering help to people
Online grocery shopping
Recreation or workout
Visiting family members or friends
Other (please specify):

7. GENERAL REFLECTIONS

In this part of the questionnaire we are interested in your general reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can you share some general views/words of your reflection on Covid-19?

If you would like to receive the results of the survey, please leave your e-mail:

(e.g. john@gmail.com)

Thank you once again for completing this questionnaire!