A1 Journal article (refereed)
Developing Students Well-Being and Engagement in Higher Education during COVID-19 : A Case Study of Web-Based Learning in Finland (2023)

Maunula, M., Maunumäki, M., Marôco, J., & Harju-Luukkainen, H. (2023). Developing Students Well-Being and Engagement in Higher Education during COVID-19 : A Case Study of Web-Based Learning in Finland. Sustainability, 15(4), Article 3838. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043838

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Maunula, Minna; Maunumäki, Minna; Marôco, João; Harju-Luukkainen, Heidi

Journal or series: Sustainability

eISSN: 2071-1050

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 20/02/2023

Volume: 15

Issue number: 4

Article number: 3838

Publisher: MDPI AG

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043838

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/85580

Abstract

COVID-19 rapidly and extensively changed the normal everyday practices of societies, and there is no going back to the past. Universities also had to adapt and re-establish their normal routines, from policies to practices. In this article, we explore university students’ experiences of web-based learning, their well-being, and engagement during the pandemic. As a theoretical framework, we use the concept of the university student engagement inventory (USEI), which includes behavioral, cognitive, and emotional dimensions. The data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic from university students (N = 35) via an online survey and analyzed using a thematic content analysis. According to the results, university students experienced well-designed and pedagogically implemented web-based learning, teaching and guidance to enhance their own learning, well-being, and engagement in their studies. This suggests that web-based solutions for academic learning are justified but need to consider a range of well-being and engagement factors. What is still needed are innovative solutions that are pedagogically justifiable and consider the digital and human dimensions sustainably.

Keywords: well-being; studies in an institution of higher education; students; online study; online learning; committing oneself; experiences (knowledge)

Free keywords: web-based learning; well-being; engagement; university student

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

Preliminary JUFO rating: 0