Understanding Student Perceptions of AI Tools in Higher Education: Evidence from UTAS Salalah

Abstract

This study intends to explore student perception towards the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the context of higher education with specific reference to the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) - Salalah in Oman. Although AI integration in education is accelerating globally, empirical evidence on how students perceive AI tools vis-à-vis their satisfaction, usage benefit, and perceived benefits, especially within the Oman higher education context, remains scarce. To address this gap, this study investigates the effect of system quality, information quality, and service quality on user satisfaction, use benefit, and perceived net benefits, applying the DeLone and McLean Information Systems (IS) Success Model. A structured questionnaire was administered to 133 university students as part of a quantitative research approach. After that, the data was examined using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), which employed a two-stage approach to assess the structural and measurement models. Other validation of the model was performed using Q²_predict and model fit validation. The study found that the information and service quality significantly affect both user satisfaction and use benefit, which also have a net positive impact. The system, however, did not show a statistically meaningful effect on either use benefit or user satisfaction with the system's quality. This research provides the first application of the IS Success Model related to the adoption of generative AI in the context of higher education within Oman’s Vision 2040 blueprint for digital transformation.