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Integrating Business Students’ E-Learning Preferences into Knowledge Management of Universities after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Dávid Máté Hargitai

    (Department of Marketing, University of Pannonia, Egyetem utca 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary)

  • Florina Pinzaru

    (Faculty of Management, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration SNSPA, bd. Expoziției 30A s.1, 012104 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Zoltán Veres

    (Department of Marketing, University of Pannonia, Egyetem utca 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many universities to close doors and keep students completely online—a phenomenon that raised unprecedented challenges with lessons learned that should be integrated into future educational knowledge management strategies and practices. Special attention should be given to students’ learning habits. This paper presents the results of a semi-systematic literature review on the research problem and a survey of a sample of business students regarding their learning habits and preferences. Learnings of the research can be useful for the transition to an entirely online distance education, integrated in the framework of knowledge management strategies regarding e-learning in universities. The primary quantitative research was conducted before the start of the lockdown, and the results give useful insights that can be translated into mandatory elements for any strategy designed to assure a smooth and effective passage from in-class education to online teaching and learning. Students’ pre-epidemic learning habits, their use of communication tools and their preferences for solutions usable in distance education, with a special focus on gender and education level, have been investigated. Results are correlated in the paper with possible knowledge management strategies in universities as part of an approach with both academic and practical implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Dávid Máté Hargitai & Florina Pinzaru & Zoltán Veres, 2021. "Integrating Business Students’ E-Learning Preferences into Knowledge Management of Universities after the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2478-:d:505627
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Snyder, Hannah, 2019. "Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 333-339.
    2. Guilbault, Melodi, 2018. "Students as customers in higher education: The (controversial) debate needs to end," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 295-298.
    3. Mahdi, Omar Rabeea & Nassar, Islam A. & Almsafir, Mahmoud Khalid, 2019. "Knowledge management processes and sustainable competitive advantage: An empirical examination in private universities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 320-334.
    4. Krishnamurthy, Sandeep, 2020. "The future of business education: A commentary in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 1-5.
    5. Long Pham & Stan Williamson & Ronald Berry, 2018. "Student Perceptions of E-Learning Service Quality, E-Satisfaction, and E-Loyalty," International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems (IJEIS), IGI Global Scientific Publishing, vol. 14(3), pages 19-40, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eduard Edelhauser & Lucian Lupu-Dima, 2021. "One Year of Online Education in COVID-19 Age, a Challenge for the Romanian Education System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-32, July.
    2. Zutshi, Ambika & Creed, Andrew & Bhattacharya, Ananya & Bavik, Ali & Sohal, Amrik & Bavik, Yuen Lam, 2021. "Demystifying knowledge hiding in academic roles in higher education," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 206-221.

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