Title: A SWOT analysis of student support services (SSS) administration in online vs. traditional education

Authors: Temitayo Deborah Oyedotun

Addresses: Faculty of Education and Humanities, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Guyana, P.O. Box 101110, Turkeyen Campus, Guyana

Abstract: Student support services (SSS) are vital to promoting student success, retention, and well-being in higher educational institutions (HEIs). As education evolves, SSS has adapted to meet changing student needs, particularly with the rise of online learning. This paper compares SSS in traditional and online settings using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis to assess their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Traditional SSS fosters community through face-to-face interaction but lacks flexibility, while online SSS enhances accessibility and scalability yet faces challenges with engagement and technology. Drawing from literature on historical and current practices, the study highlights the need for a hybrid model that integrates both approaches. It emphasises leveraging technology, inclusivity, flexibility, and data-driven strategies to improve outcomes. The paper concludes by recommending that educators, administrators, and policymakers design equitable and adaptive support systems that effectively address the evolving needs of students in diverse learning environments.

Keywords: administration; education technology; hybrid model; online learning; SSS; student support service; SWOT analysis; traditional learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIIE.2026.154746

International Journal of Innovation in Education, 2026 Vol.9 No.3, pp.203 - 215

Received: 06 Mar 2025
Accepted: 07 Oct 2025
Published online: 13 Jul 2026 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article