Factors Influencing the Adoption of E-Learning by University Students in Sri Lanka: Application of UTAUT-3 Model during Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Universities around the world are entering 'emergency mode' during the COVID-19 pandemic, radically transforming education by switching towards online learning and other distance-based education methods. An unintended consequence of these emerging changes is that many students who are either not willing to use e-learning or have no adequate skills to learn through electronic devices or have no resources to access them are marginalized. Considering the timeliness and the relevance of the phenomenon, this study aims to identify the factors influencing the adoption of e-learning by Sri Lankan university students. The relevant data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire which was distributed among 191 university students based on the convenience sampling method. This study found out positive impacts of performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, habit, price-value, and personal innovativeness in IT on to use elearning. Moreover, the intention has a positive impact on the adoption of elearning platforms. This research fills the gap in the existing literature and provides valuable insights to the course administrators in universities in Sri Lanka to better manage e-learning systems.