Factors Influencing the Success of E-Learning Implementation: A Study of Afghan-Postgraduate Students at UTM-Malaysia

Abstract

Comprehending and utilizing information technology and online platforms are the dire need of todays’ educational era. Current research aims at investigating the factors influencing the successful implementation of e-learning use among Afghan-postgraduate student at University Technologi Malaysia. Particularly, centered on identifying students’ characteristics, design and content, and technological factors that affect E-learning environment. At total of seventy-two (n=72) postgraduate students from the faculty of education, engineering, science and management at Universiti Technologi Malaysia (UTM) participated in survey questionnaire. The findings resulted that most of the students have positive perception about the E-learning environment. In addition, the most influential factors are (1) students’ characteristics that contained motivation, computer skills and attitudes, (2) design & content with professed use of IT and quality of content, while (3) technology with effectiveness of IT and quality of technology have been graded as the lowest influential factors hindered the successful implementation of E-learning use. Specifically, students’ motivation, encouragement, and satisfaction are the key elements toward the successful implementation of E-learning and accomplished their learning activities better and easily than the traditional method. However, most of the learners revealed that before initiating into the E-learning environment, they need more assistance and training in E-learning environment than the traditional methods. Besides, using E-learning is more complicated during learning and teaching process. Finally, it is suggested that university authority and policymakers put into their curriculum to initiate some special workshops and seminars to the international students who are newly admitted to their desired field of studies at UTM Malaysia.