During Times of Disruption

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic forced higher education institutions to shift from face-to-face courses to emergency online education. This qualitative study explores 43 Master of Business graduate students' experiences and challenges during this transition at a university in Turkey. The overarching themes included the following: 1) the importance of students' engagement and motivation, 2) flexibility being key, 3) the importance of digitalization/ use of technology, 4) the importance of mental and physical health, and 5) remembering nothing is normal. The findings supported the idea that online education is essential in times of lockdown and social distancing during a pandemic; however, understanding and meeting the needs of students is critical as educators move forward while teaching via new platforms.