Blockchain Technology Adoption in Saudi Arabia’s Higher Education Sector

Al alyan, Mohrah Saad

Blockchain Technology Adoption in Saudi Arabia’s Higher Education Sector

Al alyan, Mohrah Saad

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2023

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Al alyan, Mohrah Saad
dc.date.accessioned	2024-06-04T04:18:34Z
dc.date.available	2024-06-04T04:18:34Z
dc.date.issued	2023
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179382
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	Blockchain technology is a decentralised, digital ledger that records transactions securely and transparently using cryptography. It allows for a trustless system where no central authority is needed to validate transactions. Originally used as a cryptocurrency mechanism, blockchain has since found applications in many fields and industries, although its applications in education are still emerging. Guided by 1) the importance assigned to innovative technologies for higher education development in Saudi Arabia and 2) the lack of blockchain adoption knowledge in this field, this study aims to develop a framework for blockchain adoption in Saudi higher education institutions. Using the Design Science Approach as a basis, this study 1) designs an original framework based on theoretical and empirical literature on blockchain adoption; 2) presents the results of the framework analysis and refinement by industry experts; and 3) demonstrates the results of the framework evaluation based on a large-scale survey of higher education professionals. The Blockchain Adoption Framework for Saudi Higher Education Institutions developed in this study is, to the best knowledge of the researcher, the first of its kind. It includes five dimensions: Technology, Organisation, Environment, Quality and Barriers. The model demonstrates a high level of validity with 11 out of 16 factors demonstrating a statistically significant relationship to blockchain adoption. The framework can serve as a practical tool for institutional decision-makers in developing a plan for blockchain adoption in colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia. The framework is supplemented with a questionnaire tool that helps identify adoption enablers and barriers specific to each institution. The framework can also be used as a foundation for further research on blockchain adoption both in the context of higher education and related industries. Despite its rigorous research approach, the study still had some limitations regarding geographic and industry context, data collection and sampling methods. Therefore, future studies are recommended to explore the framework's applicability to other sectors and national contexts as well as using different methodologies to test its validity.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/179382/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2023 Mohrah Saad Al alyan
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/cph
dc.title	Blockchain Technology Adoption in Saudi Arabia’s Higher Education Sector	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

Blockchain technology is a decentralised, digital ledger that records transactions securely and transparently using cryptography. It allows for a trustless system where no central authority is needed to validate transactions. Originally used as a cryptocurrency mechanism, blockchain has since found applications in many fields and industries, although its applications in education are still emerging. Guided by 1) the importance assigned to innovative technologies for higher education development in Saudi Arabia and 2) the lack of blockchain adoption knowledge in this field, this study aims to develop a framework for blockchain adoption in Saudi higher education institutions. Using the Design Science Approach as a basis, this study 1) designs an original framework based on theoretical and empirical literature on blockchain adoption; 2) presents the results of the framework analysis and refinement by industry experts; and 3) demonstrates the results of the framework evaluation based on a large-scale survey of higher education professionals. The Blockchain Adoption Framework for Saudi Higher Education Institutions developed in this study is, to the best knowledge of the researcher, the first of its kind. It includes five dimensions: Technology, Organisation, Environment, Quality and Barriers. The model demonstrates a high level of validity with 11 out of 16 factors demonstrating a statistically significant relationship to blockchain adoption. The framework can serve as a practical tool for institutional decision-makers in developing a plan for blockchain adoption in colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia. The framework is supplemented with a questionnaire tool that helps identify adoption enablers and barriers specific to each institution. The framework can also be used as a foundation for further research on blockchain adoption both in the context of higher education and related industries. Despite its rigorous research approach, the study still had some limitations regarding geographic and industry context, data collection and sampling methods. Therefore, future studies are recommended to explore the framework's applicability to other sectors and national contexts as well as using different methodologies to test its validity.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179382