The Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Teaching and Engagement in UK Business Schools

34 Pages Posted: 28 Oct 2020 Last revised: 28 Jun 2021

See all articles by James T. Walker

James T. Walker

Henley Business School, University of Reading

Rita Fontinha

University of Reading - Henley Business School

Washika Haak-Saheem

University of Reading - Henley Business School

Chris Brewster

University of Reading - Henley Business School

Abstract

The global outbreak of COVID-19 led to a rapid shift to Working from Home (WFH). In Universities and other of the education sector, on-line teaching and assessment becoming mandatory. We use research from a representative large-scale (n=2,287) survey of business, management and economics academics in the UK to examine how prior on-line experience, learning during the ‘lockdown’, and work engagement, impacted their perceptions of on-line education. Results show that: (1)experience of on-line activity prior to the lockdown was substantially positively related to perceptions of working virtually, though perceptions differed by seniority; (2) While experience of working on-line during lockdown did not enhance academic’s views of on-line delivery or any bias against on-line delivery, it did increase positive attitudes towards on-line marking; (3) Those able to maintain mental resilience and energy are considerably more likely to perceive on-line activity positively; but being more ‘dedicated’ or more ‘ensconced in work’ did not play a role. We explore the implications of these findings for the future of on-line work.

Keywords: Higher education, global lockdown, on-line teaching and assessment, work engagement, job insecurity

Suggested Citation

Walker, James T. and Fontinha, Rita and Haak-Saheem, Washika and Brewster, Chris, The Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Teaching and Engagement in UK Business Schools. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3717423 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3717423

James T. Walker (Contact Author)

Henley Business School, University of Reading ( email )

PO Box 218
Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AH
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 118 378 7374 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.henley.ac.uk/people/person/dr-james-walker/

Rita Fontinha

University of Reading - Henley Business School ( email )

Greenlands
Reading, Henley on Thames RG6 6AH
United Kingdom

Washika Haak-Saheem

University of Reading - Henley Business School ( email )

Greenlands
Reading, Henley on Thames RG6 6AH
United Kingdom

Chris Brewster

University of Reading - Henley Business School ( email )

Greenlands
Reading, Henley on Thames RG6 6AH
United Kingdom

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