Chinese Higher Education in the First Year of COVID-19: Policy Changes and Students Perspectives

Abstract

This study, which focuses on higher education policies and students opinions of higher education during this time, is set in China during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation of Chinas higher education policy change at the start of the COVID-19 epidemic (2020) and a comparison of various educational models are the main goals of this study (mainly online and offline). The researcher collected 138 questionnaires via the internet from students at all levels of higher education across China, and this data was collated and analysed. The researcher found that participants were subjectively more likely to believe that COVID-19 was detrimental to their learning. Also, specific similarities and differences between online and offline courses were summarised from the participants descriptions. In terms of correlation, the study found a positive correlation between students equipment and adaptability. Regarding the education policy section, the study found a clear policy shift in Chinese universities in 2020, mainly in the first half of the year when most universities implemented a policy of conducting all online courses, while in the second half of the year the opposite was true, with most universities changing back to all on-campus learning.