Belonging, trust and social isolation: the move on-line during the time of COVID–A longitudinal study

<p>  The move to on-line teaching in UK higher education was swift and dramatic as the Covid pandemic drove societyinto lockdown. Programmes and modules traditionally taught face to face were suddenly converted to bedelivered in an on-line format. This research explores the experience of this process over an academic year, at alllevels of educational progression, fromfirst year undergraduates, to post-graduates on a one-year programme.Using a qualitative focus group strategy, this research project investigated key themes of motivation andengagement, and the impact the move on-line had on the students sense of belonging, the formation of trust, andthe impact on social isolation. The mainfinding of this research are that programmes of study that move on-linemust focus on more than simple issues of delivery, but recognise the significance of the socio-emotional di-mensions of study and the need to build networks and relationships, in order to establish, grow, and maintainmotivation and engagement.  </p>