Continued Use Intention of Distance Learning for Higher Education International Students Staying in Home Country

• Main Authors: Huang Weixuan, Intan Soliha Ibrahim
• Format: Proceedings
• Language: English; English
• Published: Universiti Utara Malaysia 2022
• Subjects: LB2300-2430 Higher education; RA643-645 Disease (Communicable and noninfectious) and public health
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/35780/1/ABSTRACT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/35780/2/FULL%20TEXT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/35780/; http://utlc.uum.edu.my/index.php/component/content/article/164-article/491-proceeding?Itemid=437
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sabah

During COVID-19, most educational institutions see distance learning as the best option for educational sustainability. Research related to distance learning has sprung up. As a short-lived alternative to face-to-face learning, distance learning shows transient solid prosperity. However, as an inevitable stage in the development of digital technologies in education, little is known about the nuances of distance learning being incorporated into everyday learning. The research points to a group that has not yet received widespread attention, who stay in their own countries to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral through distance learning. The research aims to identify international students' using perceptions of distance learning about staying in their home country and its continued use intent. Another research objective was to identify differences among different groups of international students (Undergraduate, Postgraduate, PhD) regarding perceptions and continued use intent. In exploratory research, qualitative research is a "frequent visitor" seen as a reasonable way of interpreting research objectives in depth. With the help of snowball sampling, the study obtained 12 respondents with a high willingness to participate. The respondents are 12 Chinese citizens currently staying in china and studying in Malaysia's private, public, and national universities through distance learning (4 undergraduate students, 4 graduate students, and 4 PhD students). Data was collected through semi-structured interviews in video, voice, and telephone calls. The result showed that PhD group is more concerned about the multi-dimensional benefits of staying on their using distance learning, such as course quality, job opportunities, educational opportunities, family responsibilities, co-worker relationships, educational costs, language, culture shock, and time management. They have a very high demand for continuous use. Therefore Undergraduate students will be less affected by the cancellation of distance learning. Distance learning provides educational opportunities for graduate students and PhDs.