The impact of digital technology on the quality of higher education

Ural State University of Economics, Department of Applied Sociology, 620144 Yekaterinburg, Russia

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic intensified the transition to online learning practices. The article aims to analyse how students perceive distance education quality compared to face-to-face education mode. The author argues that the groups of social actors, interested in the promotion of distance education in higher schools, include: university leadership, geographically and physically disadvantaged students. In the period 2015-2020 the group of USUE researchers conducted a series of students’ surveys. Analysing the survey findings, the author states that despite the benefits of distance education, students consider that the quality of distance learning is inferior to the traditional face-to-face education mode. Among the problems faced by students in distance learning, is their inability to select information, assess its reliability, and differentiate significant information from insignificant. It is concluded that it is of great importance to continue research into the impacts of digitalization on the quality of higher education.