The Effects of Distance Education Capabilities and Competencies on Learning Outcomes During COVID-19 in Higher Education Institutions

This study aims to determine the relationships among students' self-learning capability, lecturers' teaching competencies, COVID-19 conditions, and students' learning outcomes during online teaching in tourism higher education. This study also investigates the role of distance education tools on the relationship between behavioral factors and learning outcomes. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, including an experimental design and a quantitative model. A qualitative experimental study to evaluate the students' attitudes and behaviors during distance education was followed by quantitative research. A hypothesized conceptual model was tested using structural equation modeling to analyze the relationships among the factor groups and the mediating role of distance learning tools. As a result, while "students' self-learning capabilities" and "lecturers' teaching competencies" had a positive impact on "students' learning outcomes", "COVID-19 conditions" had a negative impact. All hypotheses were supported.