From Regional Attractiveness to Distance Learning in Tertiary Education: An Analysis of Some Determinants Before and After Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the transition to distance education, helping to reduce the spatial, temporal and economic barriers that constrain student mobility. Recent studies have investigated both the trajectories of interregional mobility and the determinants of success of digital educational models. This paper analyzes the evolution of regional university attractiveness and the diffusion of distance education in Italy at two key moments: a.y. 2016/17 (pre-pandemic) and a.y. 2022/23 (post-pandemic), with the aim of assessing the impact of the increase in online educational offerings on interregional student mobility. The analysis is based on an original dataset that integrates institutional sources (ANS, MIUR - Educational Offerings, TEHA Index) and uses OLS regression models, considering the Attractiveness Index (AI) and Distance Learning Enrollment Rate (RDL) as dependent variables. Explanatory variables include indicators related to university policies, type of educational offerings and territorial attractiveness. The results point to significant determinants and suggest a substitution effect between physical and virtual mobility, shaping a possible paradigm shift towards a more flexible, hybrid and territorially accessible university system.