Thao-Trang Huynh-Cam, Venkateswarlu Nalluri, Long-Sheng Chen, Jonathan White, Thanh-Huy Nguyen, Van-Canh Nguyen and Tzu-Chuen Lu
As emerging e-course providers after the COVID-19 crisis, universities (UNI) policymakers in the Mekong Delta region (MDR) have faced difficulties owing to limited clues about…
Abstract
Purpose
As emerging e-course providers after the COVID-19 crisis, universities (UNI) policymakers in the Mekong Delta region (MDR) have faced difficulties owing to limited clues about what factors improve student retention and recruitment. This study aims to determine important factors (IF) for student satisfaction with e-course adoption (e-satisfaction) for student retention and recruitment.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data collected from 850 students of the target UNI were analyzed using the DT-fuzzy DEMATEL method. Input factor dimensions included course design, technical infrastructure, interaction, teacher-related and student-related factors. Decision Trees (DT) confirmed the final factors; fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) was used to establish the cause-effect relationships among these factors.
Findings
DT-fuzzy DEMATEL method can identify satisfied and dissatisfied students (accuracy = 94.95%) and determine IFs successfully. The most IFs included new and useful knowledge/information provided, various effective teaching methods and motivation to read provided learning materials.
Originality/value
Although e-satisfaction has been the focus of theories and practices, e-satisfaction in an emerging region like MDR has been studied here for the first time. Most IFs can be used as predictors for e-satisfaction and serve as a primary reference for UNIs’ policymakers. Several practical suggestions were also provided for the sustainable and long-term development of e-programs.
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Public libraries play a pivotal role in supporting education and literacy. They provide numerous services, activities, collections and resources for education and leisure…
Abstract
Purpose
Public libraries play a pivotal role in supporting education and literacy. They provide numerous services, activities, collections and resources for education and leisure. Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) is an international renowned public library that provides numerous services for different users worldwide. E-learning is an emergent and promising method for teaching and learning different subjects such as the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The e-learning educational system is quite novel in Africa and the Middle East; hence, this paper presents the whole concept to the reader. In addition, it demonstrates number of e-courses tackling different domains provided by different educational institutions, national and public libraries worldwide.
Design/methodology/approach
In 2017, the BA inaugurated its e-learning services to cope with the new educational trend and to consolidate the lifelong learning concept in the community. The author showed special interest to the case of e-learning in the BA, as it is a regional public library. The main idea of this paper is to attract attention toward public libraries as a promising venue for e-learning implementation for general knowledge, library information sciences, soft skills, elementary and informal STEM education. The paper discusses in details e-learning and its characteristics.
Findings
In addition, the paper compares traditional education (face-to-face) with e-learning education, mentions both their pros and cons and recommends blending the two educational methods as they complement each other. Furthermore, the author has selected a sample of different STEM e-courses (203 different e-courses). These e-courses were selected to assert the possibility of presenting STEM topics in the form of e-courses.
Originality/value
This study would be one of the emergent research studies that connect e-learning to both STEM disciplines and public libraries. Additionally, this research highlights the importance of public libraries and all the services they provide. In the mean time, it shed light on the important and unique role of specialized librarians. Briefly, public libraries with all their resources, services and expert librarians could provide an exceptional e-learning experience to their community and be of great help to educational institutions and organizations.
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This paper aims to focus on how the e‐library interoperates with the e‐learning process within the academic computing environment (ACE) at the United Arab Emirates University…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to focus on how the e‐library interoperates with the e‐learning process within the academic computing environment (ACE) at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is inspired by the existing findings of a questionnaire survey conducted by the Laptop Project at the UAEU (2002‐2003) and sequel research (2004‐2005) on the acceptance and adoption of the Blackboard, a web‐based instructional platform, by the students. Personal interviews were conducted with the instructors who were involved in the e‐learning initiative to find out the appropriate e‐information services that should be provided to support their respective Blackboard‐aided courses.
Findings
The paper finds that the instructors have viewed e‐learning as a sound instructional tool and an evolving genre capable of providing more than just textual information. According to their viewpoints, the e‐library could support e‐learning courses with a bundle of networked e‐information services such as development of course‐related electronic collections, virtual reference help, current awareness and SDI, online document delivery, etc. E‐literacy was found to play an essential role in fostering adoption and acceptance of e‐learning, whereas the language barrier has constrained e‐learning initiative in the colleges where Arabic is the teaching language, i.e. Blackboard does not support creation of Arabic contents and interface so far.
Practical implications
The capabilities of the e‐library in providing networked e‐information services have made the integration with the e‐learning process a highly urgent requirement.
Originality/value
A model representing the integration of the e‐library functions with the e‐learning process is presented in the paper. The proposed model could be applicable in learning settings within an academic computing environment.
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Yusuf Mohamed Janahi, Esra AlDhaen, Allam Hamdan and Waleed Ahmed Nureldeen
Academic institutions, for the most part, discontinued face-to-face classes in favor of adopting and deploying online learning modalities that allowed for immediate participation…
Abstract
Purpose
Academic institutions, for the most part, discontinued face-to-face classes in favor of adopting and deploying online learning modalities that allowed for immediate participation. The pandemic has hastened the pace of implementation as well as the utilization of and reliance on technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) is important for higher education business continuity. Currently, some institutions are utilizing these resources to strengthen their student recruitment and retention efforts. Others use them to make the classroom more accessible or to construct tailored learning programs.
Design/methodology/approach
The rapid spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 has compelled many countries to enact stringent measures to halt the virus’s spread. The pandemic has hastened the adoption of online teaching and remote work technology. While a combination of online and face-to-face learning is the way of the future, it will necessitate additional resources to support program development and delivery, as well as increased collaboration between IT and subject matter experts.
Findings
This successful technological integration, which includes a smooth transition from face-to-face training to digital e-courses, provides a variety of benefits, including money saved on travel expenses. Top technological developments will continue to enhance company innovation and efficiency while also improving service efficiency. The top strategic technology trends for this year fall into three categories: human centricity, location independence, and resilient delivery, and are expected to be significant for the next five to ten years. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will need to establish a technological ecosystem that is dependable, cloud-based, data-integrated, and learning-focused to compete successfully in this “new normal.” After the epidemic, when classes resume on campus, a hybrid approach to virtual learning is likely to become the new normal. While it is unlikely that campuses would be totally virtual, they will also be unlikely to be entirely physical.
Originality/value
A blend of actual and virtual classrooms, as well as online learning, is the long-term solution, and strategic decisions made now will be critical in preparing for a post-pandemic world.
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The purpose of this study is to propose a research model based on expectation-confirmation model (ECM) to examine whether interactivity and course quality factors (i.e. course…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to propose a research model based on expectation-confirmation model (ECM) to examine whether interactivity and course quality factors (i.e. course content quality, course design quality) as antecedents to student beliefs can influence students' satisfaction and continuance intention of the cloud-based electronic learning (e-learning) system within the educational institution.
Design/methodology/approach
Sample data were collected from students enrolled in a comprehensive university in Taiwan. A total of 600 questionnaires were distributed in the campus, and 515 (85.8%) useable questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
Findings showed that students' perceptions of interactivity, course content quality and course design quality positively significantly contributed to their perceived usefulness, confirmation and satisfaction with the cloud-based e-learning system, which in turn directly or indirectly led to their continuance intention of the system. Thus, the results strongly supported the research model based on ECM via positioning key constructs as the drivers with all hypothesized links being significant.
Originality/value
This study identifies three factors (i.e. interactivity, course content quality, course design quality) as drivers from the learner perspective within the cloud-based e-learning environment, and links these factors to students' satisfaction and continuance intention of the cloud-based e-learning system based on ECM. It is particularly worth mentioning that the three drivers can serve as precursors for recognizing the determinants that are crucial to understand students' satisfaction and continuance intention of the cloud-based e-learning system. Hence, this study may provide new insights in nourishing the cloud-based e-learning continuance literature in the future.
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K.D.V. Prasad, Shivoham Singh and Ved Srinivas
The authors investigated whether remote learning and its associated factors affect students’ adoption of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Blue Jeans and other conference applications.
Abstract
Purpose
The authors investigated whether remote learning and its associated factors affect students’ adoption of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Blue Jeans and other conference applications.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a quantitative design; data were collected by surveying B-school students in Hyderabad using a questionnaire prepared adopting the validated scales. About 33 items were used to measure nine reflective constructs: remote learning, performance expectancy, adoption behavioral intention, institutional support, ecological acceptance, habit formation, hedonic motivation, attitude towards conference apps and social influence. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out, and hypotheses were tested using IBM SPSS and AMOS version 28.
Findings
A 61% variance in students’ adoption behavioral intentions and a 37% variance in students’ attitude towards conference apps are accounted for by remote learning, performance expectancy, institutional support, ecological acceptance, habit formation, hedonic motivation and social influence. The exogenous constructs of institutional support, environmental acceptance, habit formation and social influence are statistically significant and influence students’ adoption and behavioral intentions toward conference applications. The attitude towards conference apps fully mediated the relationship between students’ adoption behavioral intentions and performance expectancy. However, the constructs of environmental concern, social influence and habit formation are partially mediated. This study provides empirical evidence that attitude towards conference apps, environmental acceptance, performance expectancy, institutional support, habit formation and social influence are the key predictors of remote learning and students’ adoption of and conference applications.
Research limitations/implications
This study was limited to the B-schools of Hyderabad city, an Indian metro. To encourage students to adopt remote learning through conference apps, academicians should appropriately illustrate the idea of remote learning. To enable students to learn while on the go, educational institutions should offer intuitive applications with enhanced reading layouts. Second, since internet access is required for remote learning, this study is crucial for service providers. To make it simpler to obtain educational resources, the internet should be more widely accessible. Third, since technology is linked to remote learning, this type of study is essential for the education sector since devices need to be developed.
Practical implications
The pandemic has caused restructuring of the educational system, necessitating new strategies for distance and virtual learning for teachers. In the future, teachers will adopt techniques centered around the use of virtual platforms, social media and video production. The government should establish sufficient infrastructure to facilitate online education and assist instructors in becoming more knowledgeable and proficient in the use of technology, especially when creating, executing and assessing online instruction.
Originality/value
The purpose of this study is to determine how beneficial it is to use online/remote learning with Zoom, BlueJeans, Microsoft Teams and other conference software in particular. Both the online/remote learning method itself and the learners' capacities and capabilities for adjusting to new normal scenarios should be developed in educational environments.
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Sanjay Nadkarni and Stephanie Morris
This paper aims to provide an overview of how a Dubai-based higher education institution in hospitality management has leveraged the enabling macro-environment for building…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an overview of how a Dubai-based higher education institution in hospitality management has leveraged the enabling macro-environment for building innovation-centric courses in hospitality pedagogy. The policy-level initiatives focusing on innovation adopted by the UAE, and Dubai, in particular, are analyzed along with their impact on the higher education landscape.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory research design with an experimental component based on iterative approach has been adopted in this paper.
Findings
The synthesis of the exploratory analysis with the outcome of the experiment for developing innovation-centric courses and assessments which integrates elements of sustainability underscores the necessity for a scalable roadmap for developing an innovation-driven ecosystem. Implications for stakeholders in deploying the proposed roadmap are discussed.
Originality/value
The experience curated from the design development and delivery of innovation-focused courses with the mandated framework in a specific geography (in this case Dubai, UAE) attests to the originality. The research adds value by proposing an implementable roadmap for stakeholders to foster an innovation-driven socio-economic ecosystem that encompasses elements of sustainability.
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Pushkar Dubey and Kailash Kumar Sahu
Technology-enhanced learning (TEL), undoubtedly, creates a big difference in higher education students' knowledge and growth, which helps them become globally competitive in the…
Abstract
Purpose
Technology-enhanced learning (TEL), undoubtedly, creates a big difference in higher education students' knowledge and growth, which helps them become globally competitive in the job market eventually. The present study aims to investigate the effect of various factors, i.e. informational quality, compatibility, resource availability, subjective norms, subject interest, institutional branding and self-efficacy on students' adoption intention to TEL enrolled in different government and private educational institutes in Chhattisgarh state.
Design/methodology/approach
The primary data were collected from 600 students from different universities and colleges using purposive sampling technique with “criterion sampling”. Hierarchal multiple regression (stepwise) analysis was used on the collected data.
Findings
Results concluded that factors, i.e. compatibility, resource availability, subjective norms, subject interest and institutional branding are significantly and positively influencing students' adoption intention to TEL in Chhattisgarh, whereas self-efficacy and informational quality of TEL did not contribute significant effect for students' adoption intention.
Originality/value
There is a lack of research in the knowledge domain, especially in the field of TEL, in the state of Chhattisgarh. The different variables taken in the present study, such as informational quality, self-efficacy, institutional branding, subjective norms, resource availability, compatibility and subject interest of TEL, are the first of its kind where these variables are being examined on the students' adoption intention to TEL.
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Wei Ching Lee and Bernard Cheng Yian Tan
The purpose of this study is to scrutinise individual learning strategies in their workplace when they were experiencing digital innovation. Moreover, the respective enablers and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to scrutinise individual learning strategies in their workplace when they were experiencing digital innovation. Moreover, the respective enablers and challenges of each category of strategies were explored to conceptualise supporting features needed in the digital learning environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a qualitative inquiry to understand employees’ workplace learning strategies and the respective enablers, and challenges in each category of strategies. Twenty employees across different industries were interviewed, and a two-cycle inductive coding analysis was adopted to identify the categories of learning strategies.
Findings
Four categories of workplace learning strategies were identified: self-driven, social-leveraged, enterprise-oriented and information and technology-enhanced (IT-enhanced) strategies. Enablers and challenges of each category were also presented in this study.
Practical implications
The findings provide insights for individuals to establish a repertoire of learning strategies. The inadequate use of IT-enhanced strategies is additionally addressed.
Originality/value
This study examined workplace learning strategies in the context of digital innovation. Based on the empirical findings and existing literature, this study proposes a framework with the supporting features for a digital learning environment.
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Shalini Sahni, Sushma Verma and Rahul Pratap Singh Kaurav
The widespread uptake of digital technology tools for online teaching and learning reached its peak during the nationwide lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. It…
Abstract
Purpose
The widespread uptake of digital technology tools for online teaching and learning reached its peak during the nationwide lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. It transformed the higher education institutions (HEIs) marketplace both in developed and developing countries. However, in this process of digital transformation, several HEIs, specifically from developing countries, faced major challenges. That threatened to affect their sustainability and performance. In this vein, this study conducts a bibliometric review to map the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest strategies for HEIs to cope with post-pandemic situations in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
This comprehensive review encompasses 343 papers published between 2020 and 2023, employing a systematic approach that combines bibliometrics and content analysis to thoroughly evaluate the articles.
Findings
The investigation revealed a lack of published work addressing the specific challenges faced by the faculty members affecting their well-being. The study underscores the importance of e-learning technology adoption for higher education sustainability by compelling both students and teachers to rely heavily on social media platforms to maintain social presence and facilitate remote learning. The reduced interpersonal interaction during the pandemic has had negative consequences for academic engagement and professional advancement for both educators and students.
Practical implications
This has implications for policymakers and the management of HEIs, as it may prove useful in reenvisioning and redesigning future curricula. The paper concludes by developing a sustainable learning framework using a blended approach. Additionally, we also provide directions for future research to scholars.
Originality/value
This study has implications for policymakers and HEI management to rethink the delivery of future courses with a focus on education and institute sustainability. Finally, the research also proposes a hybrid learning framework for sustainability and forms a robust foundation for scholars in future research.