Students’ Online Behaviour in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from Poland and Ukraine

The COVID-19 pandemic forced universities to rapidly switch to distance learning, while simultaneously accelerating changes that might facilitate a more inclusive model of education. The goal of the research was to investigate the multi-dimensional aspects of learning online, including students’ gender, age, and culture. The research results, based on 1562 survey responses from Polish and Ukrainian students, suggest that there are still differences between men and women as far as digital competences are concerned that might have their background in the traditional perception of gender roles. Besides, the pandemic has accelerated the processes of hardware and software enhancement in order to facilitate online learning, especially in Ukraine, which is mitigating technological exclusion. The possibility of accessing learning resources online, might allow people with lower economic status or women to continue education. The research results might be helpful in the development of future educational policies at Polish and Ukrainian universities.