How does the COVID-19 pandemic influence students' academic activities? An explorative study in a public university in Bangladesh

The global impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spared no sector, causing significant socioeconomic, demographic, and particularly educational repercussions. In Bangladesh, many institutions temporarily suspended classes due to infection risk, while the tertiary sector faced substantial challenges in establishing and maintaining effective online systems. Using a qualitative approach, this study explores how COVID-19 influenced the academic pursuits of students enrolled in public universities in Bangladesh. Thirty students from a public university participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings reveal unforeseen disruptions in learning (e.g., closure of libraries, seminars, and dormitories; postponement of academic/administrative activities), complications with online education—especially for practical and laboratory-based learning—declines in energy levels and study hours, and a range of physical, mental, and financial challenges that directly affected educational activities. The outcomes emphasize the need for a hybrid academic approach within tertiary institutions in Bangladesh and other developing nations with similar sociocultural and socioeconomic contexts.