Blockchain Technology Adoption in Saudi Arabia’s Higher Education Sector

Abstract

Blockchain technology is a decentralised, digital ledger that records transactions in a secure and transparent way 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.