Abstract
The global spread of COVID-19 has prompted countries worldwide to design initiatives and measures to ensure public health and safety. Saudi Arabia launched a “Stay-at-Home” initiative in March 2020 involving all sectors of society. This exploratory study employed a qualitative research design using written journal reflections to discern the views and opinions of Saudi female graduate students at a large public university in the Eastern Province. The research posed three questions: (1) What were participants’ perspectives of the impact of the “Stay-at-Home” initiative; (2) What values did participants manifest during the initiative; and, (3) What were participants’ recommendations and innovative solutions to deal with the initiative’s effects? Findings reveal that boredom and loneliness, fear of infection, and financial concerns dominated students’ perceptions of the impact of the initiative. Participants further identified divine protection and global unity as two key values that were heightened to deal with the initiative and the pandemic. Finally, innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of the initiative were categorized into 13 sub-themes organized around two main spheres of Saudi life — public (governmental/societal) and private (family/home).
 
 Keywords: COVID-19, Saudi Arabia, higher edducation
Highlights
COVID-19 constitutes a new global reality that has impacted every aspect of daily life
This study explored the critical perspectives of twenty Saudi graduate students in the field of education during the initial height of the COVID pandemic in April 2020
During the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, Saudi Arabia began a "Stay-at-Home" intervention, which was recommended by health officials and authorities to curb the spread of the virus and to educate and protect its citizens and residents (Al-Shurafa, 2020)
Summary
COVID-19 constitutes a new global reality that has impacted every aspect of daily life. COVID-19 has resulted in financial losses for businesses, a tsunami of layoffs, and increased unemployment These problems and challenges emanating from the global spread of COVID-19 have led to unprecedented levels of collaboration among governments, academic institutions, healthcare entities and individuals. With the first outbreak of COVID-19, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) took precautionary actions before any local cases happened Those actions were carried out before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 was a pandemic. This study explored the critical perspectives of twenty Saudi graduate students in the field of education during the initial height of the COVID pandemic in April 2020 The voices of these future educators, at the heart of SA's future, provide important insights and experiences pursuant to values and behaviors during exceptional times. This research focused on graduate students' perspectives, values, and innovative coping strategies and solutions within an educational frame during the "Stay-at-Home" initiative launched March 27, 2020 (Ministry of Health, 2020c)
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