The ongoing questionnaire survey aims to assess the current changes university students must put up with during the COVID-19 pandemic with the focus on their learning conditions, financial situation, housing, health, and inner well-being. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid changes in university teaching methods: physical contact between lecturers and students has shifted to the online environment, and a number of measures have been put in place to ensure social distance.
Following the latest government safety measures, students have often moved back to their parents’ houses or remain isolated in their student accommodation. Government restrictions have also affected the availability of student part-time and full-time jobs. As a result, university students are going through a particularly hard time, full of uncertainties associated with the gradual implementation of government measures.
Even you can get involved and help gain knowledge of the impact that COVID-19 has had on students’ lives. You only need to meet two simple conditions – you are a university student and you are at least 18 years old. The questionnaire is available in both Czech and English, your participation is completely voluntary, and it only takes about ten minutes to fill it out. It is also important to mention that taking part in this study does not pose any security risk to you – the respondents’ identity as well as the actual participation in the survey are strictly confidential and the respondents cannot be identified.
This survey will be carried out in 27 countries in Europe, North America and South Africa. On the national level it will get the support of some major local universities and research centres. The organizers of this survey would of course be extremely happy to see students participate in large numbers so that the results of the survey are as accurate as possible.
“The results of this survey will be very useful for Masaryk as well as for all other participating universities; they will provide the much-needed feedback on how students perceive the current anti-COVID-19 measures and help university management to develop guidelines for future action and to effectively target assistance," says Vice-Rector of the Masaryk University Michal Bulant.
Since the survey is conducted internationally, it will reflect the impact of individual national policies on students’ inner well-being as well. The results of the study will be published in international scientific journals and presented at world conferences. A summary of the results with further details will be made available on the University of Antwerp website.