Higher Education at the Crossroads of Disruption: Phenomenological Insights into Malaysian Experience

• Main Authors: Abdul Rahman, Qurratu Ain, Bakar, Erda Wati, Juhary, Jowati, Syed Mohamed, Ahmad Thamrini Fadzlin
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: LB2300 Higher Education
• Online Access: https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/29930/1/UUM%20IQRC%202022_43_51.pdf; https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/29930/
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has abruptly changed many facets of the global civilization, upending everything in its path. Everything has been affected, not only the education industry, which has witnessed some unexpected shifts in many different corners of the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malaysian Higher Education initiated the use of online learning or e-learning with technology and devices as a communication mediator to replace face-to-face learning. The abrupt transition from face-to-face to online learning has brought many challenges to instructors and students. Thus, this study is aimed to describe the lecturers’ experience and perspectives in dealing and addressing the various challenges with the sudden educational shift triggered by the pandemic in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. A phenomenological approach was employed through adoption of semi-structured in-depth interview via Microsoft Teams with two respondents. The findings from the interview were transcribed, coded, and analysed thematically according to Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic analysis framework. It is found that although lecturers do aware of the implementation of online education, they are not necessarily ready and prepared to face the real situation when changes happen drastically. Further study is needed to answer the question arrised for better understanding.