Factors affecting students' satisfaction with online learning in higher education in Qatar

Abstract

This effort seeks to explore the major factors that play an essential part in enhancing students 'satisfaction with online learning experience in higher education in Qatar, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model was expanded by integrating three new components to study student's satisfaction with online learning such as course design, student engagement and assessment method. Quantitative research methods were adopted, and data were collected from 750 students at four Universities in Qatar through an online survey questionnaire. The SPSS statistical software was applied to test the research model and to examine the reliability and validity of the data obtained from the questionnaire. Based on the findings, student engagement, assessment method, course design and continuance in the use of online learning were shown to have a substantial influence on students' satisfaction. Performance expectancy and social influence were exhibited to have a considerable impact on continuance in the use of online learning. Nevertheless, the influence of effort expectancy and facilitating conditions on continued use of online learning was found to be statistically insignificant. Moreover, the effects of age, gender, educational level, and nationality were also explored. It was found that there was a considerable discrepancy among the two genders, the different ages, educational level and nationalities on the different constructs of the model. The results of this study offer many academic institutions the opportunity to understand the factors affecting students' satisfaction with online learning in Qatar. The findings definitely, provide insight into how colleges and universities in Qatar can effectively improve online students' experience with online learning. Moreover, this research presented a conceptual model to shed the light on the shortness and provide a better explanation and understating of the factors affecting students' overall satisfaction and the relationships between them.