Challenges in online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: Higher education survey in Montenegro

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered significant changes in education systems worldwide. Until the lockdown in March 2020, teachers in Montenegro had solely conducted lectures in lecture theatres. Their previous use of online teaching aids was sporadic and was based on their assessments regarding the need to use them. During the pandemic, however, teachers were forced to switch to online lectures virtually overnight, thus turning the traditional model of education into a virtual model. This study explores Montqenegrin higher education teachers’ perceptions of the challenges of implementing online teaching during the lockdown period. A total of 120 teaching staff from all faculties in four universities in Montenegro completed a questionnaire entitled: ‘Challenges and opportunities of online teaching in Montenegro’. The analytical findings revealed that all teachers experienced challenges when providing online lectures.

KEYWORDS:

• Higher education
• online teaching
• COVID-19
• challenges
• Montenegro
• universities

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Milena Kavaric

Milena Kavaric is Teaching Assistant with PhD at the Law faculty of the Mediterranean University. Her main research areas include Company Law and Business Law with special reference to the Franchise Agreement. Her latest interest is related to Higher Education policy and practice.

Andrea Kavaric

Andrea Kavaric is a lecturer at the University of Donja Gorica, Faculty of Culture and Tourism, Vatel Academy of Hospitality Management and General Manager of Iberostar Slavija Hotel. Her main areas of research are hotel chain management, franchising in the hotel industry, education, strategic management and capital increase formats in the hotel industry.

Rajka Djokovic

Rajka Djokovic is Teaching Assistant with PhD at Faculty of Law, University of Montenegro. Her research interests relate to History of Law and Higher Education.