Impact of COVID-19 on higher education institutions of Myanmar

Abstract

As connectivity throughout the world is increasing, we are to face a lot of risks. The spread of COVID-19 has caused an unprecedented test on education and most students are faced with a lot of challenges. This study aims to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in higher institutions in Myanmar. For this purpose, the data were accumulated through a questionnaire responded by 249 participants consisting of 127 university teachers and 122 students. The participants were chosen using the non-probability sampling method. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. This method has also improved the reliability and reduced the biasness. Overall, it was found that there was a very large undesirable impact upon the humankind development especially on education system to continue the routine personal and professional lives. Myanmar universities need to reinvent learning environments so that digitalization expands and complements, but does not replace, student-teacher and student-student relationships.