Changes in Core Competencies among Korean University Students Due to Remote Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aimed to determine the academic performance and learning skills of students who studied through remote teaching methods during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It was conducted in February 2021 with 398 university students in South Korea. Data were collected through online surveys. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) with an autoregressive correlation structure were employed to distinguish differences in core competencies, academic performance, satisfaction, and usefulness of teaching methods before 2019 and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings revealed that the overall core competencies of participants were significantly lower in 2020 than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, knowledge construction, responsibility practice, and socialization were significantly low during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas information management and identity value did not show a significant difference. However, problem-solving was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enhancing the core competencies of university students is integral in the new learning environment of the post-COVID-19 era. It is necessary to devise approaches that improve the effectiveness of remote teaching methods and simultaneously augment student satisfaction.