Staff adoption of blockchain technology in higher education: insights from AHP analysis

Purpose Blockchain technology is transforming education by enhancing institutional credibility, boosting efficiency, security, transparency and eradicating fraud. Despite its advantages, the adoption of blockchain technology in higher education institutions(HEIs) remains limited. Staff are the key stakeholders who play a critical role in the successful implementation of blockchain technology in educational institutions. Therefore, it's important to identify and prioritize the factors that influence staff to adopt blockchain technology in HEIs. Design/methodology/approach This study has utilized analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method to prioritize the factors that influence staff to adopt blockchain technology in HEIs. The data were collected from 23 staff members (including academic and administrative staff) working at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Oman. Findings The study reveals strategic governance as the most important factor, highlighting the importance of robust leadership commitment, dynamic institutional culture and strong policy framework. Financial stewardship ranks second, emphasizing the need for investment readiness, financial accountability and economic efficiency. Digital Infrastructure ranked third, pointing out the significance of infrastructure resilience, data governance and system interoperability. Stakeholder Collaboration ranked fourth, underscoring the relevance of partnership with academic, industry and government. Human capital ranked lowest, indicating the need for workforce competence and capacity development. Research limitations/implications This study has several limitations. The small sample size of 23 staff members at UTAS limits the generalizability of findings to other institutions. The AHP relies on expert judgment, and therefore the pairwise comparison may be subject to bias. The study emphasizes the perceived importance and prioritization of adoption factors rather than actual post-implementation outcomes, as blockchain technology has not yet been deployed in UTAS. There is a need for a cross-sectional study, indicating the need for longitudinal research to explore the changing landscape of blockchain implementation and adoption. Practical implications This study offers a strategic roadmap for the successful implementation of blockchain technology in Oman's HEIs by identifying the critical factors that influence staff adoption, thereby providing clear, actionable, practical implications and evidence-based guidance for institutional decision makers and practitioners. Originality/value The study offers a novel contribution by employing AHP to examine the staff adoption of blockchain technology in HEIs in Oman. The context has received limited empirical attention in existing literature. By identifying and prioritizing the key adoption factors, the research provides context-specific insights that can assist in developing strategies for the efficient implementation of blockchain technology in HEIs. The focus on UTAS, the largest higher education institution, further enhances relevance and applicability to the national digital transformative initiative.