Factors Influencing University Students’ Behavioral Intention and Use of eLearning in Kathmandu Valley

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the factors influencing university students’ intention and behavior toward eLearning in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The research framework used in this study was the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology (UTAUT). The most common factors associated with UTAUT are social influence, facilitating conditions, habit, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, behavioral intention, and use behavior. Data were collected from 385 university students through a closed-ended questionnaire through social media platforms. The demographic information of respondents was summarized using SPSS version 25 software, while structural equation modeling was performed using SmartPls version 3 to identify the factors that influence behavioral intention and use behavior of eLearning. The data analyses revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence, and habit all significantly influence the behavioral intention of eLearning, with facilitating conditions being the most significant factor. Similarly, habit, facilitating conditions, and behavioral intention also significantly influence the use behavior of eLearning, with facilitating conditions as the most significant factor. It suggests that students are more likely to utilize eLearning tools when they have access to various technical devices and receive sufficient support from educational institutions. Therefore, universities should prioritize accessibility, feedback mechanisms, and seamless integration of eLearning into curricula. Peer support, technical assistance, and promotion of the benefits of eLearning are also essential for fostering engagement. By focusing on these aspects, eLearning adoption can be optimized, leading to improved academic performance and learning outcomes among university students in Kathmandu Valley.