The covid-19 pandemic has changed people's daily lives and behaviors all across the world and has impacted practically every element of human existence. The introduction of remote education systems and the move toward online learning have had some of the most significant effects. The on-site operations of educational institutions, such as schools, colleges, and universities, have had to be suspended in order to stop the virus' spread. In order to effectively disseminate instructional material and guarantee the unbroken progression of students' academic endeavors, educators have been forced to look for novel approaches. The study used the Value-Based Adoption Model (VAM) as a conceptual framework to look into the factors that affected Kuwait's e-learning outcomes in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. 382 students at Kuwaiti universities and colleges were the source of quantitative data collection. The findings revealed that peer interaction emerged as the most influential factor in shaping outcomes within the educational context of Kuwait, while instructors and course design factors were not significant. Using the VAM, this study investigated the impact of several factors on students' e-learning results during times of crisis. The research expands the existing knowledge base in the field on this subject and suggests developing a well-organized online learning crisis approach. The main contribution of this work is summarized on (i) An integrated framework for the quality of the e-learning experience in universities in post-covid-19 times and (ii) A resilient higher education institutional learning strategy model in post-covid-19 times. The findings of this paper can be generalizable to other Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) countries such as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Oman. This is due to the shared cultural traditions and values, along with similar educational systems among these nations.

This research explores the causes behind increasing defaults among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kuwait by focusing on the impact of the crisis and the role of the Kuwait National Fund for SME Development. The central crisis examined in this study is the COVID-19 pandemic, which acted as a catalyst that intensified pre-existing financial and operational challenges within the SME sector. Other systemic vulnerabilities such as limited financial literacy, weak risk management, and policy gaps are also considered within this broader crisis context. By employing a mixed method approach, the study draws on 15 interviews with owners of defaulted SMEs and a questionnaire involving 64 defaulted SMEs. This dual method framework qualitative (thematic analysis) and quantitative (survey based statistics) provides both depth and generalizability in understanding default risks. Thematic analysis revealed that crises such as COVID-19 related operational delays, changes in customer behaviour, and increased financial obligations were the main contributing factors. The quantitative findings align with these themes, with 89% acknowledging that the pandemic affected their ability to repay loans. This research contributes to existing literature by empirically linking crisis induced pressures to SME loan defaults in a Gulf context, with Kuwait as the focus. Policy implications include strengthening the Kuwait National Fund’s role in flexible financial support, risk management programs, and enhancing SME access to alternative funding channels. The study proposes that the Kuwait National Fund for SME Development could implement sustainability policies and practices such as flexible financial support, capacity building, risk management, and facilitating connections with alternative funding sources to address these issues. These proposed strategies provide SMEs with more resources and skills to handle challenges, which may reduce default rates and contribute to a more resilient SME sector in Kuwait.