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Purpose – This research aimed to capture undergraduate students' experiences in the transition from face-to-face (F2F) learning to online learning. This study explored their perceptions regarding the effectiveness of online learning in their academic lives, challenges encountered and suggestions for enhancing online learning in the post-COVID-19 era. Design/methodology/approach – This study employed a concurrent mixed-methods research design and selected 118 undergraduate students using a multistage random sampling technique from four colleges in Assam. Standardized questionnaires and open-ended interview schedules were used. Findings – Undergraduate students reported a positive attitude and satisfaction with online learning, valuing its adaptability to their schedules, its role as a motivating factor for self-learning, its effect on making them more technically proficient and enhancing their communication skills to articulate their thoughts. However, the challenges identified by the students have the potential to overshadow the promises of online learning. This research provided more constructive suggestions under the themes of “content delivery”, “systemic and infrastructural issues”, “pedagogy” and “capacity building” to enhance their experiences with online learning. Practical implications – Our research findings would assist educational institutions in adopting innovative approaches for simpler and more efficient online learning experiences post-COVID-19 pandemic. Institutions should prepare themselves and design dual-mode courses for F2F and online learning. Originality/value – The paper addressed a relevant topic in this era of online learning by examining undergraduate students’ viewpoints that added complementary information to the current body of literature on online learning in rural India. The insights gleaned from their experiences would be beneficial for the development of best practices for online learning in the coming decades.

Homopolymer of linseed oil and its four copolymers with styrene, 1-decene, isodecyl acrylate and octyl acrylate, respectively, have been synthesized in this present context. The prepared polymers are characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The molecular weights have been measured by gel permeation chromatography. Their effectiveness as pour point depressant (PPD), viscosity index improver (VII) and their shear stability in terms of permanent shear stability index have been evaluated in lube oil. The copolymers acted as better PPDs than the homopolymer whereas the homopolymer of linseed oil excelled as VII. Further it was observed that all the prepared polymers were stable enough under severe mechanical shear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude oil extraction, transportation and even its storage require a lot of struggle due to its high density, high viscosity and high pour point. To overcome these problems, polymers have attracted much attention as efficient chemical additive. Moreover polymer blending is an economic and easy process to develop better polymeric materials with higher thermal and mechanical stability. In this context, we evaluated a polymer blend of two copolymers viz. vinyl acetate-octyl acrylate and dodecyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate, as flow improver by measuring viscometric parameters, pour point and shear stability index in crude oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]