The Adoption of Blockchain Technology in Higher Education: The Impact of Leadership Readiness

Abstract

The emergence of blockchain technology has captured considerable interest across various industries due to its ability to revolutionize traditional systems by ensuring enhanced security, transparency, traceability and efficiency. More recently, the higher education sector has begun exploring the adoption of blockchain technology, acknowledging its potential to transform multiple facets of the educational landscape, including academic administration, the learning and teaching process, and academic research. The primary goal of this study is to ascertain the factors that influence individuals' behavioral intention to adopt and use blockchain-based educational platforms. Moreover, the research aims to underscore the pivotal role played by educational leadership in advancing the adoption of blockchain technology within higher education institutions. Blockchain technology is recognized as a cutting-edge solution that has the potential to streamline processes, reduce costs, and foster trust within the educational ecosystem. A novel conceptual model based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was developed and tested for the purpose of this study. Data was gathered from 175 respondents across eight European countries through a structural questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to examine the hypotheses of the model. The study unveils perceived trust as the primary determinant influencing the behavioral intention to use blockchain-based educational solutions, underscoring its pivotal role in embracing innovative technologies by instilling confidence and reducing uncertainty among users. Furthermore, educational partner readiness, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy also have a positive impact on the usage intention. Additionally, the results also highlight the significance of leadership blockchain readiness in shaping the actual usage behavior. The findings offer valuable insights into the adoption of blockchain technology in higher education. Also, the study extends previous research by utilizing an extended UTAUT framework, and it contributes to the emerging literature on blockchain implementation and technology acceptance models.