Education Management During COVID-19 : A Single Case Study of Swedish Higher Education Institute Jönköping University

Abstract: Background:COVID-19 is the most discussed topic since the beginning of the year. Moreover, today's society faces various problems caused by the COVID-19 crisis requiring new knowledge and strategies since various social institutions are affected in different ways, and the education system is included between these institutions. In fact, higher education institutions witnessed a huge transition from traditional classroom-based teaching to a virtual approach and online education. While higher education may have transformed and moved to online due to COVID-19, it is unknown whether the transition resulted in a changeddirectionfor education management. Purpose:This study aims to take a deeper look into how students and teachers are affected by COVID-19 for a higher education institution in Sweden by seeking through how online platforms are used and how it is affecting the users of education. Moreover, the study aims to know what changed in management practices and grading strategies fora sustainable university education quality during pandemics and emergencies. Method:Fulfilling the purpose, qualitative research design gathering empirical data by conducting semi-structured interviews with both students and teachers and taking a single case study approach for Swedish higher education Institute (Jönköping University) using the benefit of various perspectives from different schools that Jönköping University has. Also, higher education in Sweden combines the perspective from both students and teachers as it is on the concept 'freedom with responsibility' with students mainly pursuing their studies on their own or in groups and not focusing on the teacher perspective only. Another unique asset for Sweden higher education is the possibility to access all data collected about schools and students, such as grades which are classified as secondary data. Conclusion:The results show that thetransition affected the education managementsince it impactedthe organizing and communicating. Thenresults showed some factors,such as an earlier experienceplayed a role inadapting education management changessincea new concept of teaching developed withinthis transition with adapted teaching strategies,and students responded to that byimproved learning plans. Anothermain finding ineducation management aspects is the grading strategieswhereit was found that the criteria did not change,but exams got modified,leading to changesin thegradepatternsthat can be described as unnormal. All of that was concluded in a frameworkaccording toour findings and research work.