How Did Turkish Higher Education Respond To Emergency Distance Education in the Covid-19 Pandemic? Acceptance and Use by Turkish Academics

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid transition to online education, presenting adaptation challenges for faculty members unfamiliar with distance education methodologies. Certain institutions have demonstrated greater efficacy owing to prior experience in this domain. This study investigates faculty acceptance and utilisation of mandatory distance education employing the UTAUT2 model, with age and gender as moderating variables, analysed through structural equation modelling. Data from 3631 participants were collected using a 25-item scale encompassing seven subdimensions: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, habit and price value. The research assessed the impact of these dimensions on behavioural intention and usage, with gender moderating several relationships, while age did not exhibit a significant moderating effect. The findings, consistent with the extant literature, suggest that training and experience in distance education could enhance acceptance and utilisation among faculty members.