Delivering blended learning to transnational students: students' perceptions and needs-satisfaction

Transnational education (TNE) has grown significantly in developing countries but providing quality and scaling to large student numbers is a challenge for universities. Blended learning offers a potential solution for scaling at high quality. A large-scale project delivering a blended learning programme for TNE students in South-East Asia was evaluated. The aim of this research was to assess the students' perceptions of the changes from predominantly face-to-face to blended mode. A student voice survey based on self-determination theory was administered to participating students (n = 1718) to assess their needs, satisfaction and frustration levels. All students found the online resources useful. Students who had experienced the previous delivery of education experienced higher levels of frustration. Conversely, students commencing after the changes had been implemented reported higher levels of satisfaction and lower frustration. Furthermore, mature-age students who attended evening classes perceived the blended approach more positively.