Adoption of distance education during the pandemic of covid-19 by Moroccan university students: A qualitative study applying UTAUT model

Résumé

If there are any doubts about the importance of digital transformation in higher education, The Coronavirus has silenced them. In a changing world, operating digitally is the only way to continue the process of education during confinement and to assure the interactions between students and universities.

This article aims to explore the first experience of a group of university students with distance education during Covid 19 crisis. More specifically, this study describes their perceptions and the determinants of their satisfaction and answers the question of recommending distance education even after the pandemic era.

We have opted for a qualitative descriptive design guided by a phenomenological approach.

A convenience sample of 20 Moroccan university students from different universities regardless of factors such as gender, age, study level and university’s location is chosen to conduct this study;

Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and by making some adoptions to make it more suitable to the context of the sample population and the pandemic context, we developed an interview guide.

Study results revealed three major themes including: (1) Moroccan university students resist in the first to use distance education during the confinement, (2) they were not totally satisfied with their digital experience due to many reasons such us non-availability of resources and technical interruptions, (3) the majority of them recommend the hybride way of study.

This study highlights the importance of preparing and conducting a change management strategy to embrace and sustain the adoption of distance education and mobilize technical resources and infrastructure to ensure the success of this new practice in Moroccan universities.

JEL Classification: A20

Paper type: Empirical research