View of Belarusian Users on the Essence of Online Education

The article presents the results of a survey aimed at assessing online education in the Republic of Belarus, as well as the organization of the online learning process and the use of digital technologies in three universities of the Republic of Belarus (Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank and the branch of the Russian State Social University in Minsk, Republic of Belarus). The work considers the main aspects of the advantages and disadvantages of various forms of online education in general, as well as specifically in universities of users from the position of a student and a teacher. The study sample covers 156 people, which included full-time and evening students, master's students and teachers. The materials contain a qualitative interpretation of the data and elements of descriptive statistics, with direct statements of respondents on the identified issues given as examples. The publication also provides a theoretical analysis of the definition of the concepts of education, training, online education and online learning.