Digital Transformation and Sustainable Higher Education: Determinants of Student Adoption of the Unified Online Admission Platform (QUBOOL) in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study examines Saudi students’ perceptions and behavioral intentions toward the online admission system "QUBOOL", introduced in 2025 to streamline the university application process. A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected from university students in Saudi Arabia. The collected data were analyzed using AMOS to assess key constructs derived from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology UTAUT-2, including Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Hedonic Motivation, and Habit to Use. The findings revealed that Performance Expectancy and Effort Expectancy exert a significant positive influence on students’ behavioral intention to use the QUBOOL system. In addition, Social Influence, Hedonic Motivation, and Habit were also found to positively affect students’ intention to adopt the system. The results further revealed that Perceived Security significantly affects behavioral intention, but it does not directly influence actual system use. Furthermore, a significant relationship was identified between Behavioral Intention and Actual Use, highlighting the important role of intention as a predictor of technology adoption. The study contributes to the expanding literature on technology adoption in higher education and provides practical insights for policymakers and universities seeking to enhance the effectiveness as well as user acceptance of centralized admission platforms. Future research could extend these findings by incorporating samples from multiple universities and employing longer-term longitudinal research designs to better understand how students’ perceptions, intentions, and usage behaviors evolve over time.

Keywords: Saudi Vision 2030; UTAUT-2; QUBOOL; Online Admission System; Technology Adoption; Behavioral Intention; Higher Education

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/16-2-01

Publication date: July 28^th 2026