How Do Different Types of University Academics Perceive Work from Home Amidst COVID-19 and Beyond?

Nilmini M. Rathnayake, Pivithuru J. Kumarasinghe and Ajantha S. Kumara
Additional contact information
Nilmini M. Rathnayake: Department of Business Management, SLIIT Business School, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Malabe 10115, Sri Lanka
Pivithuru J. Kumarasinghe: Department of Business Economics, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
Ajantha S. Kumara: Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a massive and unintentional shift to work from home (WFH) or working remotely, as well as broad adoption of web-based platforms. The goal of this research is to uncover the attitudes to WFH among different types of academics in the Sri Lankan higher education sector. An online questionnaire survey was conducted amidst a severe COVID-19 wave during June–September 2021, and 337 valid responses were received. The questionnaire contained 49 questions under four sections excluding demographic questions. The gathered data were analysed using multiple regression models. Results of the study ascertained a significant ( p < 0.01) positive attitude among academics towards online teaching (academic orientation), other than academics who from disciplines with more practical components, and there was a significant ( p < 0.01) positive attitude among academics to conducting research (research orientation) while WFH. Further, the findings indicate a significant ( p < 0.01) negative attitude to WFH when disseminating knowledge and engaging in community services with various stakeholders. When considering the criticality of demographics variables in the new normal, a hybrid working model can be introduced by reaping the benefits of WFH based on different types of academic orientations and their favourability towards the WFH model, rather than reverting to a full physical academic working environment. As a developing country, Sri Lanka can formulate policies on effective hybrid working models for academics to realise the potential from the lessons learned. This experience will enable the country to accomplish or move towards accomplishing the fourth goal of SDGs, quality education by 2030.

Keywords: COVID-19; hybrid work model; university academics; work from home (WFH) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/4868/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/4868/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:4868-:d:796683

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().