Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic imposed dramatic changes on educational practices worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the distance learning experience of students during the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing results obtained in two countries: Italy and Portugal. A cross-sectional survey was used to analyse a survey questionnaire focused on two domains: digital skills and motivation to engage in distance learning. The results from Italian and Portuguese students indicated that majority showed a positive attitude towards online learning and the digital hybrid pedagogy. The recent e-learning experience created complex challenges and a variety of opportunities at the same time. Students and university staffs’ need for training was highly associated with motivation, engagement and connection with colleagues rather than with the infrastructures offered or the development of computer literacy.
 Keywords: COVID-19; digital skills; students' perceptions; students’ motivation.
Highlights
The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has had a major impact on higher education worldwide
The primary purpose of this study is to investigate university students' perceptions towards the sudden transition to online learning during the COVID-19 outbreak and to determine the type of learning that the university students, Italian and Portuguese, will adopt after the lifting of the containment measures COVID-19
By analysing the answers to the question "Do you think the DAD is functional for the acquisition of soft skills" the mean (1,76) and the median in 1 demonstrate that students agree that distance learning can enhance certain soft skills
Summary
The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has had a major impact on higher education worldwide. While public health officials mainly agree that the general threat of COVID-19 is best fought with measures of social distancing, the specific acts of instituting emergency e-Learning protocols do not alter the pandemic itself, but only indirectly, by limiting face-to-face classroom interactions. In response to this pandemic, European universities have been closed since March 5-9, 2020. To control the spread of COVID-19, the minister of higher education decided to keep universities under lockdown and proceed with e-learning education until September After this moment, many universities continued to support and encourage online classrooms (Borges & Benayas, 2019; Mishra, Gupta & Shree, 2020)
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