Acceptance of online education in China: A reassessment in light of changed circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Online education in China, previously considered ineffective, has undergone significant infrastructural improvements as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic requiring students to attend classes at home. This paper explores the experiences of Chinese students who have studied online during the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate whether the use of online education for degree-seekers has become a more acceptable way to expand access to higher education in China. Specifically, this study utilizes a phenomenological approach which focuses on the perspectives of the Chinese students’ impressions from their recent experience with taking online courses. Findings indicate that while there is a growing acceptance of online education, there remain key challenges online educators must overcome to gain true legitimacy in China's higher education sector.