Abstract

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to present the impact of the pandemic on a selected student group at Cracow University of Econom‑ ics. The following areas has been selected for the study: learning, labor market participation, and relationships and development. There has been presented the opinions of the surveyed students on the impact of the pandemic on key areas of their lives. On the basis of the results it was possible to formulate conclusions on this subject and indicate areas that resulted to be affected the most by the pandemic.

THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: Studies on pandemic and the results of survey conducted among a selected group of students of the Cracow University of Economics were helpful in achieving the aim of the study.

THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The presented content is divided into thematic sections. The first provides an introduction to the subject matter of the article. The second part presents students’ opinions related to the impact of the pandemic on learning, labor market participation, and relationships and development. The paper formulates a research hypothesis that the negative effects of the pandemic are felt most strongly by students in the area of relation‑ ships and development.

RESEARCH RESULTS: Students identified how the pandemic has affected and changed their lives over the past twelve months. They indicated a severe decrease in activities related to building relationships among their peer group, as well as inconveniences related to forming “master-student” relationships. Limitations related to labor market participation and learning appeared to be less severe.

CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The need to function under a sanitary regime has introduced changes in key areas of student life. The pandemic showed the shortcomings of the remote learning system and identified possible areas for improvement. It created condi‑ tions for the implementation of a new system of education, but after a year it can be concluded that it is not a satisfactory alternative to the classes conducted in a stationary mode. It is required to implement corrections and improvements. The pandemic did not negatively affect the participation of the surveyed stu‑ dents in the labor market, as they participated in it actively. The remote mode of learning and communication was not conducive to establishing relationships and developing interests. This area in the opinion of the surveyed students was most affected by the pandemic.