Determinants of University Students’ Intention to Use Video Conferencing Tools during COVID-19 Pandemic: Case of Somalia

Abstract

In a technologically disadvantaged and thriving developing country, university students in Somalia were abruptly required to adopt nontraditional learning using video conferencing facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. While video conferencing tools for teaching and learning are claimed to be effective, it is still unclear what advantages and difficulties they brought to higher education in Somalia, particularly to what extent students accepted the use of such technology. This study explores the outside factors that might be influential on students’ intentions to use video conferencing tools during the COVID-19 epidemic. The study employed integrated technology acceptance (TAM) and diffusion of innovations (DOI) models. The proposed model was tested using structural equation modelling with 600 university students during the COVID-19 outbreak in Somalia. The results indicate that significant elements influenced students’ intention to use video conferencing for learning, such as student readiness, usefulness, user satisfaction, ease of use, complexity, relative advantage, trialability, and university support, whereas the quality of service, compatibility, and observability are found to have no impact on students’ intention to use video conferencing tools. The findings show that various COVID-19 related issues play a significant influence in shaping students’ intentions to engage in video conferencing tools for learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of how effectively educational institutions are prepared to promote the use of such technology. This contribution emphasizes how crucial it is to maintain constant, interactive contact with students and to give them the right supporting environments to further enhance their educational experiences in technologically disadvantaged regions.

Consumer Behavior in the Post-COVID-19 Era: The Impact of Perceived Interactivity on Behavioral Intention in the Context of Virtual Conferences

“…The present study extends the TAM by treating perceived conference interactivity and quality as the antecedent constructs of this model. The findings of this study are consistent with prior research suggesting that perceived conference interactivity and perceived quality are important determinants of behavioral intention [6,28,38,39,79,87,92,164]. Moreover, this study reveals that perceived conference quality mediates the relationship between perceived interactivity and behavioral intention.…”

A Model for the Acceptance and Use of Online Meeting Tools

“…Ease of use was identified as a top evaluation criterion with maximum weight priority in a study that assessed remote working online meeting tools [20]. The desire of students to use web-based video conferencing for learning is influenced by factors such as ease of use, usefulness, and complexity [60]. Individuals who perceive online meeting tools as advantageous and straightforward may possess a favorable attitude towards this technology and, consequently, are inclined to use it even after the pandemic ends [38][39][40].…”

Exploring the Role of Latin American Universities in the Implementation of Transformative Innovation Policy

“…The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on innovation by universities. Due to the sudden shift to online learning, universities had to adopt new teaching methods and technologies to ensure the continuity of education [78][79][80]. In addition, in terms of funding and opportunities, many institutions faced budget cuts and reduced funding for research projects [81].…”