Wellbeing in Universities during and post Covid 19: A study to determine the role of increased student communication need on Faculty wellbeing

Abstract

This paper explores the changed dynamics of student communication need with the instructor outside the real or virtual classroom and studies the ways it has impacted both faculty and student wellbeing during the pandemic- Covid 19 and is likely to influence the future post-pandemic learning environments. The research questions have been framed to determine the role of students’ enhanced communication need during Covid 19 and to investigate it within the framework of wellbeing in educational institutions, especially higher education institutions. The research used a qualitative design to examine the experiences of both faculty and students for a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The study sample comprised students and faculty of only those institutions where remote/online/hybrid teaching was practiced through different internet-dependent platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, MS Teams. It was also ensured that the studied population has the experience of using a Learning Management System or LMS at their respective universities. The data was collected through two separate questionnaires: one for students and one for faculty and the collected data has been analysed statistically. The findings indicate that students’ communication need (with their course instructors) increased manifold as compared to pre Covid 19 times and this has not only impacted the faculty wellbeing but also of their students. The results indicate that both the faculty and students felt themselves under constant pressure in the changed pedagogic scenario which has negatively influenced their physical and mental health. The study concludes by suggesting the ways of effective communication management and advocating its inclusion in pedagogic trainings as a separate skill. The study can be extended, in future, by including university management, to investigate  their crucial role as policy makers for ensuring wellbeing in a an internet, tech dependent learning environment.