The Efficiency of Distance Learning in Ukrainian Higher Education Institutions During the Martial Law Period

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has become a severe challenge for the entire Ukrainian society, including the higher education system. The decision to switch to distance learning was made due to the increased threat to the safety of students, teachers and staff of higher education institutions. The article examines the effectiveness of the introduction of distance learning in Ukrainian higher education institutions during martial law period; analyses the level of student satisfaction with the organization of the distance learning system during martial law period; analyses the difficulties and the indicators of success of students' learning outcomes in various specialities before and during martial law period. The authors created a questionnaire for students using Google Forms to solve these problems. The obtained results were processed with the help of content analysis, calculation of the share of elections, and ranking. In order to make a comparative characterization of students' learning outcomes before and during martial law period, the authors analyzed the overall and qualitative performance of students by speciality. It has been determined that the most significant difficulties that arise in Ukrainian distance learning in the context of war are: interruptions in the work of the Internet and communication, psychological stress of students and teachers, lack of effective interaction, lack of practical training, systematic physical and moral fatigue, and reduced motivation to learn. It was found that the indicators of qualitative performance decreased, while the indicators of overall performance remained almost unchanged. The authors conclude that although distance learning requires some compromises and adaptation, its implementation in Ukraine has shown that educational institutions can function effectively in a crisis and provide students with quality education. The results of the study can be useful for educational institutions and students to improve the quality of education in times of crisis.