Between “Storm” and “Privilege”: The Unequal Impact of Online Learning In the Pandemic and its Consequences Among Romanian Graduates

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of students around the world, forcing them to study remotely through online learning. This article uses 60 in-depth interviews with students from four Romanian universities (Iasi, Galati, Brasov and Cluj-Napoca) who had recently completed 3-year degrees to analyse the impact of remote learning on the lives of Romanian graduates, taking into account inequalities in their living standards. This research contributes to the literature on higher education by analysing the unequal experiences of these graduates and how they have been affected in educational, emotional and professional terms, both during and after the pandemic. The findings show that despite the scarcity and absence of face-to-face learning, the students used resilience to overcome this period and graduate, albeit with clear differences: those in rural areas are still suffering severe consequences, while those in urban areas are enjoying the “privilege” conferred on them by their status. The conclusions highlight inequalities and reflect on the (dis)advantages of online learning in students' lives.