The pandemic brought a massive shift in traditional education strategies. Educational literature is focusing on case studies for online-learning platforms. This research aims to break down the adaptations in teaching styles and curriculums across different countries due to the worldwide shift towards newer technology and learning mediums to facilitate students. Analyzing aspects like motivation, access to network services, grading schemes, teaching styles, and curriculum changes, this research utilizes a cross-country comparison through existing local research in various parts of the globe to summarize the changes that educational institutions in higher education have incorporated into their syllabi and teaching methods. A survey was carried out at Al Ain university consisting of 174 students and 31 faculty members who rated their motivation levels and satisfaction with online learning vs. traditional methods. This survey revealed various answers showcasing the need for institutional training, student-centered curriculums, and syllabi objectives that need to be predetermined and implemented to foster students' well-being and interest in the subject matter rather than knowledge acquisition. Moreover, through analyzing different countries' teaching methodologies, we found that developing key competencies and curriculum objectives with different options and mediums available to students is vital to establish agency for students' well-being.