I work to learn: The lived experiences of working students in online learning during COVID-19

COVID-19 resulted to a wider gap in economic and educational inequalities. The abrupt shift to online learning encouraged educational stakeholders in developing economies to revisit policies, strategies and pedagogies to ensure that education is sustained despite contemporary challenges. For some students, COVID-19 and online learning ushers in an unexpected opportunity: to continue pursuing their university degree while maintaining their job. In this phenomenological inquiry, we approached working university students in the Philippines to explore their lived experiences during COVID-19 in their roles as a student and as a worker. We found three prominent themes that motivate this specific group of learners: learn asynchronously, acquire support and engage socially.