Impact of lockdown on university students’ learning process during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Central Bulgaria

In order to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning process of students in the South-Central region of Bulgaria, an online survey was conducted at the University of Plovdiv Paisii Hilendarski during the period from November 17 to December 5, 2020. The questionnaire was created via Google Forms and the link was shared with the students through social media (Facebook pages of the University and Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences). A total of 134 questionnaires were correctly completed during the study period. For analysis of the collected data the percentage distribution is calculated and statistical methods and machine learning methods are applied. During the lockdown, all respondents are trained remotely, with about 60% (80) of the learners learning entirely in an electronic environment. Most of the trainees (62%) used a laptop to participate in the learning process. Students face various problems, such as lack of sufficient means of subsistence (51%), health problems (47%), internet connectivity problems (32%) and lack of suitable conditions for learning at home (21%). Students from small settlements and those with incomes below the poverty line face serious challenges during the pandemic.

为评估新冠疫情对保加利亚中南地区学生学习进程的影响，2020年11月17日至12月5日期间，普罗夫迪夫帕伊西·希伦达尔斯基大学（University of Plovdiv Paisii Hilendarski）开展了一项在线调查。本研究通过谷歌表单（Google Forms）编制问卷，并通过社交媒体（该校及经济与社会科学学院的Facebook官方主页）将问卷链接分享给学生。研究周期内共回收有效问卷134份。针对收集到的数据，研究人员计算了百分比分布，并采用统计学方法与机器学习方法开展分析。疫情封锁期间，所有受访者均接受远程教学，约60%（80名）学习者完全在电子环境中完成学习。多数学习者（62%）使用笔记本电脑参与学习活动。学生们面临诸多困境，包括生计不足（51%）、健康问题（47%）、网络连接问题（32%）以及家庭学习条件不足（21%）。其中，来自小型聚居区及收入低于贫困线的学生在疫情期间面临更为严峻的挑战。