Advocating for the devil, or the positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning format in Ukrainian higher education

This article explores the potential and actual positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning in Ukrainian higher education institutions, particularly those in frontline regions during 2022–2024. While the transition is often viewed negatively, this study aims to present the o...

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Main Authors: Boiko D. M., Patterson K. Yu., Tupota O. O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: NGO “Ukrainian Institute for Social Research after Olexander Yaremenko” 2024-10-01
Series:Український соціум
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ukr-socium.org.ua/archive/no-1-2-88-89-2024/advocating-for-the-devil-or-the-positive-social-effects-of-the-forced-transition-to-distance-learning-format-in-ukrainian-higher-education/
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author Boiko D. M.
Patterson K. Yu.
Tupota O. O.
author_facet Boiko D. M.
Patterson K. Yu.
Tupota O. O.
author_sort Boiko D. M.
collection DOAJ
description This article explores the potential and actual positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning in Ukrainian higher education institutions, particularly those in frontline regions during 2022–2024. While the transition is often viewed negatively, this study aims to present the other side, focusing on the benefits at three levels: everyday life of participants, institutional, and societal. This study is part of the project “Social Effects and Challenges of Distance Learning in the Higher Education of Ukraine: from COVID-19 to the War”, which is implemented by the one of the authors within the framework of “Cambridge – NRFU 2022. Individual research (developments) grants for researchers in Ukraine (supported by the University of Cambridge, UK)”. Using data from comprehensive research, including desk research, expert interviews, focus groups with students and graduates, and a quantitative online survey of students, the article reveals both short-term and long-term benefits of transition to distance format of education. At the individual level, distance learning saves time, enhances flexibility for combining study and work, and fosters self-discipline. At the institutional level, it promotes the development of digital skills, inclusivity, and international collaboration, etc. At the societal level, it promotes decentralization, equal access to education, and the transformation of labor markets. Although limitations such as technical issues and potential biases are acknowledged, the study argues that distance education provides some opportunities for progressive change in Ukrainian higher education. However, even after a detailed analysis of the positive effects, the authors of the article remain skeptical about the distance format of higher education.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1681-116X
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publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher NGO “Ukrainian Institute for Social Research after Olexander Yaremenko”
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spelling doaj-art-327b2d60ab0e4e1b978bdacbbaa96eaf2025-08-20T02:37:16ZengNGO “Ukrainian Institute for Social Research after Olexander Yaremenko”Український соціум1681-116X2518-735X2024-10-011-288-89506010.15407/socium2024.01-02.050Advocating for the devil, or the positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning format in Ukrainian higher educationBoiko D. M.0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3425-8555Patterson K. Yu.1https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1378-7182Tupota O. O.2https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2454-6294V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National UniversityV.N. Karazin Kharkiv National UniversityV.N. Karazin Kharkiv National UniversityThis article explores the potential and actual positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning in Ukrainian higher education institutions, particularly those in frontline regions during 2022–2024. While the transition is often viewed negatively, this study aims to present the other side, focusing on the benefits at three levels: everyday life of participants, institutional, and societal. This study is part of the project “Social Effects and Challenges of Distance Learning in the Higher Education of Ukraine: from COVID-19 to the War”, which is implemented by the one of the authors within the framework of “Cambridge – NRFU 2022. Individual research (developments) grants for researchers in Ukraine (supported by the University of Cambridge, UK)”. Using data from comprehensive research, including desk research, expert interviews, focus groups with students and graduates, and a quantitative online survey of students, the article reveals both short-term and long-term benefits of transition to distance format of education. At the individual level, distance learning saves time, enhances flexibility for combining study and work, and fosters self-discipline. At the institutional level, it promotes the development of digital skills, inclusivity, and international collaboration, etc. At the societal level, it promotes decentralization, equal access to education, and the transformation of labor markets. Although limitations such as technical issues and potential biases are acknowledged, the study argues that distance education provides some opportunities for progressive change in Ukrainian higher education. However, even after a detailed analysis of the positive effects, the authors of the article remain skeptical about the distance format of higher education.https://ukr-socium.org.ua/archive/no-1-2-88-89-2024/advocating-for-the-devil-or-the-positive-social-effects-of-the-forced-transition-to-distance-learning-format-in-ukrainian-higher-education/ukrainedistance educationhigher educationdistance learningforced transition to distance formateducation during the warsocial effects of educationsocial transformations
spellingShingle Boiko D. M.
Patterson K. Yu.
Tupota O. O.
Advocating for the devil, or the positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning format in Ukrainian higher education
Український соціум
ukraine
distance education
higher education
distance learning
forced transition to distance format
education during the war
social effects of education
social transformations
title Advocating for the devil, or the positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning format in Ukrainian higher education
title_full Advocating for the devil, or the positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning format in Ukrainian higher education
title_fullStr Advocating for the devil, or the positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning format in Ukrainian higher education
title_full_unstemmed Advocating for the devil, or the positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning format in Ukrainian higher education
title_short Advocating for the devil, or the positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning format in Ukrainian higher education
title_sort advocating for the devil or the positive social effects of the forced transition to distance learning format in ukrainian higher education
topic ukraine
distance education
higher education
distance learning
forced transition to distance format
education during the war
social effects of education
social transformations
url https://ukr-socium.org.ua/archive/no-1-2-88-89-2024/advocating-for-the-devil-or-the-positive-social-effects-of-the-forced-transition-to-distance-learning-format-in-ukrainian-higher-education/
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