Examining Key Determinants of Ubiquitous Technology Adoption in TVET Higher Education: A UTAUT-Based Approach

The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) identifies Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Behavioral Intention (BI), Facilitating Conditions (FC), and Social Status (SS) as key factors influencing technology adoption.This study investigates whether these factors contribute to the usage of ubiquitous technology (U-Tech), specifically laptops, smartphones, and tablets, among TVET students in higher education institutions in Malaysia.The research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) via AMOS.Findings indicate significant relationships: Technology Competency (TC) ( = 0.35, p = 0.000), Performance Expectancy ( = 0.41, p = 0.000), and Facilitating Conditions ( = 0.23, p = 0.000) influence U-Tech usage directly.Meanwhile, the influence of EE ( = 0.26, p = 0.000) and SS ( = 0.52, p = 0.000) on U-Tech usage is mediated by BI.These results suggest that 63% of the variance in U-Tech usage is explained by these factors, offering insights into technology adoption in academic settings, especially among TVET students.