During the Covid-19 pandemic, universities adopted several learning modes to ensure the contention of the education activities. They adopted many methods of learning such as online once (online real-time with no recorded lecture; face-to-screen instead of face-to-face), online repeatable (online real-time with recorded lecture), Self (pre-recorded lecture only), and blended (pre-recorded lecture with face-to-face learning). Since all these methods are adopted without any evidence of their acceptance by the students, the rouse of this study is to evaluate each of these modes and identify the most preferred mode of learn-ing. Also, this study tested the new method of blended learning preferred by the students. A questionnaire was shared among the students in two faculties in the University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, and 903 were responded. Accordingly, this study found that the majority of the students preferred online real-time lectures together with the recorded lectures. This method was again tested with a selected student group and confirmed. Thus, this study recommends face-to screen lectures together with the recorded lesson is the most appropriate method to adopt during the new normal context.

PurposeThe paper aims to clarify the relationship between perceived contextual issues and the self-efficacy beliefs of the employees with e-learning engagement for their competency development. It proposes a model for the banks to utilize their e-learning interventions more effectively by managing the identified contextual issues. Simultaneously, this study aims to expand the domain of self-efficacy beliefs and apply its principles to dilute the impact of the negative contextual issues which were not addressed through similar research.Design/methodology/approachThe paper focuses on an exploratory study using a deductive approach grounded on self-efficacy – one of the main dimensions of Bandura's social cognitive theory. It adopted a mixed methodology, and primary data were collected through an online survey (792 responses analyzed through Statistical Package Social Science [SPSS]) and semi-structured interviews (20 respondents analyzed through thematic analysis). The population comprises employees of private commercial banks who have recently introduced e-learning.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights about the contextual issues influencing e-learning and how self-efficacy beliefs can be utilized to enhance the effective engagement of employees. Contextual issues related to technological, organizational, personal and time-intensive factors influence e-learning engagement. The strengthening of self-efficacy beliefs (learners' enthusiasm and gaining) can be utilized to manage personal and time-intensive factors. However, technological and organizational factors cannot be managed through a similar approach as they did not report a significant relationship with self-efficacy.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills an identified need to study how e-learning can be utilized as an effective competency development tool in the banking sector.

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