Students’ perceptions of learning in blended education: A case study of a Dutch University

The pandemic underscores the need for a blended approach, combining in-person and online education post-crisis. The lessons gleaned from the experience of pandemic-era education highlight the importance of emphasizing blended education in the post-pandemic context, which combines both in-person and online educational approaches. Effective use of blended education requires a clear understanding of students’ perceptions of learning in such education and their needs for support. Therefore, in this study, we aim to explore what are the students’ perceptions of learning and what are the source of support when students seek help in blended education. This exploratory study was carried out at a Dutch university, involving 537 students. Students’ data regarding their perceptions of learning and their sources of help in blended education were collected through an online survey. The analysis of data regarding students' perceptions of learning in blended education revealed that, overall, a majority of students reported experiencing a high perception of learning in blended education compared to the previous academic year with mainly online education. In addition, a majority of students often search for answers in online resources when they seek help in blended education contexts. The results can provide insights into the effective implementation of blended education in higher education.