Iraqi University Students’ Emergency Remote Learning Experiences During Covid-19

Abstract

The Covid-19 outbreak spurred the adoption of eLearning in many countries around the world, but relatively little is known about students’ experience on the subject. This study examined university students’ knowledge and experience of face-to-face and emergency remote education in two well-known universities in Iraq. An online survey with random sampling approach was used, and a total of 323 respondents shared their learning experiences, satisfaction, preferences, and challenges using a remote learning system was analysed. The findings indicated that respondents were not able to cope with the remote teaching system in the short term, expressing somehow their negative experience with it overall. Given the instability situation in Iraq is hard to predict the successful outcomes of such system in the long term. Respondents’ preferences were still for a face-to-face education system, thus they highlighted the challenges for eLearning in Iraq, especially those related to improving the facilities e.g., Internet infrastructure and online system.