Hybrid Learning (HL) in Higher Education: The Design and Challenges

The covid-19 outbreak is spreading in the world fast, forcing states worldwide to transform into digital services, including education services. This study aims to investigate the design and challenges of Islamic universities in implementing HL. Hybrid Learning (HL) denotes a mixture of face-to-face (FTF) learning in the classroom with online learning through application assistance. In this study, the researcher used a qualitative descriptive method using open questions, documentation, and observation. In collecting data, researchers used critical reflection and triangulation. The study's results delineate that the HL design in Islamic universities in West Nusa Tenggara is imposed with FTF and online learning. Online learning design is prescribed using various features such as maximizing various applications, including zoom applications, LMS, Google Classroom, Whatsapp Group, etc. Students who savor online learning are students in the fifth semester and up, while students who undergo the FTF learning system are freshman and second-year students. This arrangement is because students in that semester have never felt the stall and orientation of lectures. Meanwhile, students who can make online appointments and FTF are those who are undergoing the final project. The challenges in HL include lecturers having difficulty constructing learning tools, students' low motivation and willingness to learn, unstable and unevenly distributed internet access, and students' economic conditions who experience difficulties. In FTF, lecturers and students have difficulty interacting because government policies prohibit crowds, social distancing, and must wear facemasks. Therefore, students, parents, and colleges must synergize to make the HL process successful. Keywords: hybrid learning, design, challenges, FTF, online learning, higher education