Impact of Online Learning on Undergraduate Performance: A Study of Management Undergraduate in a State University of Sri Lanka

Abstract

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced all Sri Lankan universities to stop face-to-face learning activities and abruptly shift to an online curriculum. Most of the undergraduates in Sri Lanka are very familiar with classroom traditional learning procedures. Hence, this study aims to identify the impact of online learning on undergraduate academic performance. Majority of research on web-based or online management courses have been done with graduate programs, rather than the undergraduate level, and seems to lack of articles related to the Sri Lankan context. The current study is quantitative and conducted as a cross-sectional field study. According to the simple random sampling technique, the final sample remains at 250 observations of final year management undergraduates in a state university, Sri Lanka. The correlation analysis indicated, there is a significant correlation between online learning and undergraduate academic performance. According to the regression analysis, findings presented that online learning significantly impacts on undergraduate academic performance. Furthermore, those with moderate engagement who have gone for high academic performance than those with extremely high and extremely low in online engagement. Study on awareness of online learning of undergraduates is very much important to measure their performances, find pitfalls, and draft online learning policies and guidelines. Further findings of this study are significant for universities (undergraduate, academic, and administration staff) and all government institutions for their future decision-making.