University students' use of digital technology and their attitudes to technological challenges

This article examines the attitudes of university students towards the use of digital technologies in their studies and analyses the extent to which they use these technologies for various academic purposes. The research, which was conducted using a questionnaire among students at the University of Maribor, aimed to assess the frequency and type of use of digital technologies, students’ perception of their usefulness and their readiness for technological change in a rapidly digitalizing world. The results show that most students consider themselves to be digitally competent and report that using digital technology is generally not difficult. They frequently use digital tools to prepare assignments, conduct research, take notes, organize study activities and communicate with teachers and classmates. Nevertheless, the use of more specialized digital tools for academic purposes is still limited. The analysis shows that students perceive digital technologies as beneficial in several ways: They improve access to academic resources, support a better understanding of course content, promote creativity and help to solve complex study tasks. In addition, students believe that digital tools help them to organize their studies more efficiently and contribute to the development of additional skills and competences that go beyond the formal requirements of the curriculum. Importantly, students also see digital technology as a valuable resource for their future careers. They feel well prepared for the demands of the digital workplace and do not express any concerns that technology could have a negative impact on their careers. On the contrary, they believe that the digital skills acquired during their studies will benefit their professional development in the long term.