IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i16p9886-d885333.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Before and Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Self-Perception of Digital Skills in Saudi Arabia Higher Education: A Longitudinal Study

Author

Listed:
  • Mostafa Aboulnour Salem

    (Deanship of Development and Quality Assurance, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia)

  • Wafaa Hassanien Alsyed

    (Deanship of Faculty Affairs, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ibrahim A. Elshaer

    (Department of Management, Faculty of Business Administration, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
    Hotel Studies Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt)

Abstract

Compatible with global sustainable development report, 2016 edition, and vision 2030, Saudi Arabia recognized the importance of technology in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper aims to measure the self-perception of digital skills among students in Saudi Arabia’s higher education system to understand how they were influenced before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, we started a project to study the self-perception of digital skills among Saudi Arabia university students (group A). A total of 469 students participated in this research. The validity and reliability of the employed scale were tested with first-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The differences between the two groups (before and amid the pandemic) were tested through the Mann–Whitney U test. The results for group A (N = 232 students) showed a higher self-perception of their digital skills. In March 2020, amid the pandemic, Saudi Arabia closed and shifted to technology-based teaching like many other countries worldwide. After students’ return to universities in 2021, an evaluation of how the students perceived their own digital skills was again conducted (group B). The results for group B (N = 237 students) demonstrated a lower level of confidence in their own digital abilities. Comparing two groups (A and B), after the educational course was administered, group A (prior to COVID-19) had greater self-perceptions of digital skills than group B (amid COVID-19). Students’ perceptions of their own digital skills have been negatively impacted as a result of the pandemic situation caused by COVID-19. The collected evidence suggests that there is a difference, and that this difference is statistically significant. As a result of the substantial relationship between self-perception of digital skills and how students deal with reality based on their own self-perception, Saudi Arabia higher education ministry shifted teaching methods to be based on technology. Other significant findings and their implications for practice and theory were reported in this study. Finally, limitations and prospects for future research were also elaborated.

Suggested Citation

  • Mostafa Aboulnour Salem & Wafaa Hassanien Alsyed & Ibrahim A. Elshaer, 2022. "Before and Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Self-Perception of Digital Skills in Saudi Arabia Higher Education: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:9886-:d:885333
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/16/9886/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/16/9886/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pei-Yi Lin & Ching Sing Chai & Morris Siu-Yung Jong, 2019. "A PISA-2015 Comparative Meta-Analysis between Singapore and Finland: Relations of Students’ Interest in Science, Perceived ICT Competence, and Environmental Awareness and Optimism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Joseph F. Hair & G. Tomas M. Hult & Christian M. Ringle & Marko Sarstedt & Kai Oliver Thiele, 2017. "Mirror, mirror on the wall: a comparative evaluation of composite-based structural equation modeling methods," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 45(5), pages 616-632, September.
    3. Atanu Sengupta & Sanjoy De, 2020. "Review of Literature," India Studies in Business and Economics, in: Assessing Performance of Banks in India Fifty Years After Nationalization, chapter 0, pages 15-30, Springer.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mostafa Aboulnour Salem & Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, 2022. "ADIDAS: An Examined Approach for Enhancing Cognitive Load and Attitudes towards Synchronous Digital Learning Amid and Post COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Mostafa Aboulnour Salem & Ali Saleh Alshebami, 2023. "Exploring the Impact of Mobile Exams on Saudi Arabian Students: Unveiling Anxiety and Behavioural Changes across Majors and Gender," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-18, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cristina Blasi Casagran & Colleen Boland & Elena Sánchez-Montijano & Eva Vilà Sanchez, 2021. "The Role of Emerging Predictive IT Tools in Effective Migration Governance," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 133-145.
    2. Keen, Christian & Lescop, Denis & Sanchez-Famoso, Valeriano, 2022. "Does coopetition support SMEs in turbulent contexts?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    3. Wang, Siqi & Cheah, Jun-Hwa & Lim, Xin-Jean & Leong, Yee Choy & Choo, Wei Chong, 2022. "Thanks COVID-19, I'll reconsider my purchase: Can fear appeal reduce online shopping cart abandonment?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    4. Salgado, Stéphane & Hemonnet-Goujot, Aurelie & Henard, David H. & de Barnier, Virginie, 2020. "The dynamics of innovation contest experience: An integrated framework from the customer’s perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 29-43.
    5. He Tingting, 2021. "Comparing Money and Time Donation: What Do Experiments Tell Us?," Marketing of Scientific and Research Organizations, Sciendo, vol. 41(3), pages 65-94, September.
    6. Alberto Cerezo-Narváez & Andrés Pastor-Fernández & Manuel Otero-Mateo & Pablo Ballesteros-Pérez, 2022. "The Influence of Knowledge on Managing Risk for the Success in Complex Construction Projects: The IPMA Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-30, August.
    7. Muhammad Qamar Zia & Tobias M. Huning & Muhammad Sufyan Ramish & Muhammad Naveed & Shiraz Ahmed, 2024. "The impact of psychological empowerment on innovative work behavior: a moderated mediation model of informal learning and proactive behavior," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(12), pages 3695-3716, December.
    8. Lussier, Bruno & Philp, Matthew & Hartmann, Nathaniel N. & Wieland, Heiko, 2021. "Social anxiety and salesperson performance: The roles of mindful acceptance and perceived sales manager support," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 112-125.
    9. David Giauque & Frédéric Cornu & Karine Renard & Yves Emery, 2023. "Opportunity to Use New Ways of Working: Do Sectors and Organizational Characteristics Shape Employee Perceptions?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-21, July.
    10. Rafidah Md Noor & Nadia Bella Gustiani Rasyidi & Tarak Nandy & Raenu Kolandaisamy, 2020. "Campus Shuttle Bus Route Optimization Using Machine Learning Predictive Analysis: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, December.
    11. Dominika Ehrenbergerová & Martin Hodula & Zuzana Gric, 2022. "Does capital-based regulation affect bank pricing policy?," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 135-167, April.
    12. Iliriana Miftari & Rainer Haas & Oliver Meixner & Drini Imami & Ekrem Gjokaj, 2022. "Factors Influencing Consumer Attitudes towards Organic Food Products in a Transition Economy—Insights from Kosovo," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, May.
    13. Sadia Afrin & Muhammad Asyraf Bin Mohd Kassim & Mohd Faizal Yusof & Md. Sharif Hassan & Md. Aminul Islam & Khairun Nisa Binti Khairuddin, 2023. "Investigating the Determinants of Employee Performance for Sustainability: A Study on the Bangladesh Insurance Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, March.
    14. Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi & Rubayyat Hashmi & Sarh Almubark & Ameerah M. N. Qattan & Mohammad Habibullah Pulok, 2020. "Socioeconomic Inequalities in Uptake of Breast Cancer Screening among Saudi Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a National Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-13, March.
    15. Ortega, José Luis, 2021. "How do media mention research papers? Structural analysis of blogs and news networks using citation coupling," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3).
    16. Richard Grieveson & Michael Landesmann & Isilda Mara, 2021. "Potential Mobility from Africa, Middle East and EU Neighbouring Countries to Europe," wiiw Working Papers 199, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    17. Zhani, Najlae & Mouri, Nacef & Ahmed, Tariq, 2022. "The role of mobile value and trust as drivers of purchase intentions in m-servicescape," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    18. Pham, Hanh Song Thi & Petersen, Bent, 2021. "The bargaining power, value capture, and export performance of Vietnamese manufacturers in global value chains," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(6).
    19. Udengwu, Ngozi & Ofunu, Ujah Marian & Gomment, Thomas Imoudu & Aniagu, Chinonso & Nwokolo, Peter N. & Ikusemiju, Ayokunle Oluwadamilare & Gever, Verlumun Celestine, 2024. "Evaluating the impact of using storytelling and visual multimedia music intervention to improve knowledge of the Child Rights Act and reduce the propensity to engage in child marriage," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    20. Wafa Alwakid & Sebastian Aparicio & David Urbano, 2021. "The Influence of Green Entrepreneurship on Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: The Role of Formal Institutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-23, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:9886-:d:885333. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.