Article 2021

Institutional factors for faculty members' implementation of blended learning in higher education

Education and Training
Journal · Vol. 63 · Issue 5 · pp. 701-719
Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop a model grounded by the institutional theory to investigate blended learning (BL) implementation among faculty members in higher education and further validate the model. Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative methodology was employed, and data were gathered through questionnaires among 188 e-learning directors, managers and coordinators at faculty/department in institutions, which implement BL. Findings: Findings reveal that BL implementation by faculty members is significantly influenced by coercive, normative and mimetic pressures. Findings from this study also identified institutional initiatives that influence BL implementation. Accordingly, findings from this study provide insights into the institutional theory perspective toward BL. The findings support higher education to plan and initiate BL policies. Research limitations/implications: Data were collected from faculty members in universities, colleges and polytechnics only. Besides, this research is one of the limited studies that explore BL deployment from the lens of faculty members. Practical implications: This research contributes to the existing literature on the institutional theory and BL by presenting significant initiatives as practical suggestions for educationalist and policymakers. Therefore, this study provides practical implications to better understand BL initiatives by providing insights into how institutions can improve faculty members' satisfaction levels, improving course management, enriching teaching quality and enhancing learning content. Social implications: The findings provided in this study can be employed to design practices, policies and a culture that support continuance use of BL systems among faculty members to achieve an effective institutional outcome. Originality/value: This study contributes to existing BL adoption and develops a model to examine faculty member implementation of BL approach. This research has several suggestions for higher education in terms of practice to support adoption of BL. The developed model can also be employed by academics, administration and institutions to determine success initiatives for achieving an appropriate change in adopting BL in their institutions. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Higher education blended learning education management Faculty members Institutional managers Institutional pressures

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Department of Computer Science, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Trondheim, Trondelag, Norway
Funding & Acknowledgements
Grant: RDU180702
The author would like to thank the Editor of Education + Training and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments they provided during the three rounds of review, which greatly improved the quality of the manuscript. This research project is financially supported by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) from Ministry of Education, Under Universiti Malaysia Pahang Malaysia Grant No RDU180702.
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