Reviewing the critical challenges that influence the adoption of the e-learning system in higher educational institutions in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic
ISSN: 1468-4527
Article publication date: 4 April 2023
Issue publication date: 8 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the critical challenges and factors influencing the successful adoption of electronic learning (e-learning) systems in higher educational institutions before and during the current propagation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
This study undertook a literature review concerning the in-depth revision of previous studies published in 2020 and 2021. A total of 100 out of 170 selected research papers were adopted to identify and recognise the factors restricting the application of e-learning systems.
Findings
The findings determine and illuminate the most challenging factors that impact the successful application of online learning, particularly during the wide propagation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The review of the literature provides evidence that technological, organisational and behavioural issues constitute significant drivers that frontier the facilitation of the e-learning process in higher educational institutions.
Practical implications
The current paper suggests a guide for managers and scholars in educational institutions and acts as a roadmap for practitioners and academics in the educational field and policymakers as this research spotlights the significant factors challenging the e-learning process before and during the pandemic crisis.
Originality/value
The provided in-depth literature review in this research will support the researchers and system designers with a comprehensive review and recent studies conducted before and during the COVID-19 pandemic considering the factors limiting the e-learning process. This paper formulates a valuable contribution to the body of knowledge that will assist the stakeholders in the higher educational institutions' context.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-02-2022-0085.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research leading to these results has received fund from The Research Council (TRC) of the Sultanate of Oman under the Block Funding Program (No: TRC/BFP/ASU/01/2018).
Citation
Abdelfattah, F., Al Alawi, A.M., Dahleez, K.A. and El Saleh, A. (2023), "Reviewing the critical challenges that influence the adoption of the e-learning system in higher educational institutions in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic", Online Information Review, Vol. 47 No. 7, pp. 1225-1247. https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-02-2022-0085
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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