Digital Learning Challenges in Tertiary Education in Sri Lanka: A Social Capital Perspective

Abstract

This study investigates the underlying factors that contribute to the success of digital learning in higher education using a social capital perspective. It is important to address the issues faced in tertiary education as these students will soon be a part of the workforce. Although digital learning has advanced in developed countries, many developing nations, including Sri Lanka, are still in the early stages of adopting it. Previous research has not adequately explored the relationship between social capital and the challenges of digital learning in the Sri Lankan context. Thus, this study focuses on examining the structural, relational, and cognitive aspects of social capital in relation to the difficulties in digital education in tertiary institutions. The research uses a quantitative approach, and the data were collected through an online survey of students in nonstate universities in Sri Lanka. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, and the results showed that the three dimensions of poor social capital have a negative impact on digital education in tertiary institutions. This study also used multigroup moderation analysis to examine the effect of gender and location. This article will provide new insights into the role of social capital in digital education and will help policy makers to improve the quality and accessibility of digital education for all.