Developing employability digital competencies of Thai Gen Z business students: The role and matter of digital learning environments and digital adaptation skills

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships among the digital learning environment (i.e., learning management systems e.g., Moodle, Google Classroom, virtual collaboration tools e.g., Zoom, Padlet), digital adaptation skills, and employability digital competencies among Generation Z business students in Thailand. Data were collected using convenience sampling from 445 Thai Gen Z business students via online questionnaires. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the collected data. Results indicate that the digital learning environment significantly and positively impacts digital mindset, digital adaptation skills, and employability digital competencies. Such skills are not only desirable traits but also enablers of sustained employability, as they equip individuals to thrive amid rapid digital transformation and evolving industry demands. Additionally, indirect effects were observed from the digital learning environment to employability digital competencies through digital mindset and digital adaptation skills. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing the quality of digital learning environments to foster digital skills and enhance the competitiveness of Generation Z students in the future digital labor market. Apart from that, the empirical results imply that to foster employability, educational policies should emphasize not just digital access, but also pedagogical approaches that cultivate adaptive digital mindsets and broad-based digital skills among learners.