Obstacles for postgraduate health students at a South African distance-learning institute during the COVID-19 pandemic: a phenomenological study

Abstract

Globally, higher education institutions, specifically universities are expecting postgraduate (PG) students to conduct research to resolve existing challenges in their field and come out with new innovations. The COVID-19 pandemic affected these expectations. This was a concern to the researcher. A phenomenological qualitative study explored and described research-related challenges encountered by University of South Africa (Unisa) PG students while conducting research during COVID-19. Twenty-two Masters and Doctoral students pursuing health-related postgraduate research at Unisa were purposefully recruited and interviewed individually by using Microsoft Teams. Tesch’s inductive and descriptive coding technique was used for data analysis. Four participants were excluded during analysis due to poor sound quality during recording. Findings revealed one theme being a challenge encountered by PG students during the course of their studies with five sub-themes which originated from administrative, academic and internet connectivity issues. Findings suggest strengthening existing student support related to research by revising existing university research policies with consideration of future unforeseen circumstances. University management to consult university students’ representative in that regard, to hear their voices. Furthermore, the university to strengthen consultation with national and international networks in order to their share and get other resolutions related to network challenges. This might shed light to other higher education institutions.