The aim of this article is to explore the advantages and disadvantages experienced in higher education institutions during the period of emergency distance education, based on the qualitative findings of qualitative and mixed-methods research conducted. In pursuit of this objective, a compilation of mixed-methods and qualitative research conducted on higher education institutions during the COVID-19 period from 2020 to 2023 has been gathered from the English language and Web of Science database. Thematic analysis of the classified data reveals that emergency distance education leads to significant disadvantages in countries with low economic indicators. Considering the potential use of emergency distance education in future crises, the importance of preparatory measures becomes evident. Focusing on the disparity among various geographical and economic regions during the period of emergency distance education is a distinguishing feature of this research. Based on the results obtained, recommendations have been provided to international organisations, regulatory bodies in higher education, and higher education institutions.