Title: Exploring barriers affecting e-learning usage intentions among Moroccan university students

Authors: Ayoub Oulamine; Anas Hattabou; Arghya Ray; Fatima El Gareh; Hajar Alourhzal

Addresses: Laboratory of Studies and Applied Research in Economics (LERASE), The Development Economics Research Team, Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of AGADIR, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Souss-Masa, Morocco ' Laboratory of Studies and Applied Research in Economics (LERASE), The Development Economics Research Team, Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of AGADIR, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Souss-Masa, Morocco ' MIS and Analytics, International Management Institute Kolkata, Alipore, West Bengal, Kolkata, India ' Laboratory of Studies and Applied Research in Economics (LERASE), The Development Economics Research Team, Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of AGADIR, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Souss-Masa, Morocco ' Laboratory of Studies and Applied Research in Economics (LERASE), The Development Economics Research Team, Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of AGADIR, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Souss-Masa, Morocco

Abstract: This study aims to explore the barriers impacting the intention to use e-learning services among university students in developing countries. To achieve this, this study had adopted the innovation resistance theory stance by including two more barriers, namely individual and technological obstacles, to illuminate the personal and technological aspects of students' online learning adoption. Data were collected using a self-administered online questionnaire from students at different university establishments present in Morocco, and 302 responses were collected. Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis conducted using SmartPLS4 software helped identify relationships between the latent variables of this study. Findings reveal a significantly negative influence of usage, value and individual barriers on the intention to use e-learning services. Results also indicate a positive influence of barriers related to image obstacles on this intention. Additionally, we found a significant moderating effect of age on the relationship between image barrier and intention to use e-learning services.

Keywords: barriers; developing countries; e-learning; innovation resistance; PLS-SEM method.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2025.144727

International Journal of Management in Education, 2025 Vol.19 No.2, pp.186 - 211

Received: 07 Apr 2024
Accepted: 28 May 2024
Published online: 28 Feb 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article