Resumen de Changes That Should Remain in Higher Education Post COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Analysis of the Experiences at Three Universities (Journal Pre-Proof)

Agueda Benito Capa, Kubra Dogan Yenisey, Kavita Khanna, Manuel Felipe Masis, Rosa Maria Monge, Mehmet Ali Tugtan, Luis Diego Vega Araya, Rekha Vig

• Objectives: The goal of the present study is to describe how the transition to remote emergency delivery was addressed in three universities during the COVID-19 pandemic, to determine the satisfaction levels of their students and faculty with this new teaching-learning experience, and to gather their opinions about the future of higher education.

  Method: The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including faculty and student surveys and focus groups.

  Results: The study shows high satisfaction with the emergency remote delivery and clearly reflects the relevance of enhancing the digital components of future learning experiences in higher education and a unanimous preference for hybrid education. Participants provide recommendations to institutions regarding what students and faculty would like to keep for a more effective learning experience when the new normal comes.

  Conclusions: COVID-19 has had terrible consequences; however, the pandemic has brought along some positive effects and improvement opportunities in higher education, and, if the results of the present study are any indication, the future of face-to-face higher education should be hybrid.

  Implication for Theory and/or Practice: The study results can provide recommendations and inform decision-making by institutional leaders and policy makers regarding the necessary enhancement of the digital component of the teaching and learning process in higher education.