Smart housing facility and student residential satisfaction in Iraq: the moderating role of resilience in university facility management

Purpose This study aims to investigate how smart housing facility (SHF) integration influences student residential satisfaction (SRS) in public universities in Iraq. It further explores the moderating role of student resilience in this relationship, providing empirical insight for designing resilient, tech-integrated student housing in post-conflict higher education systems. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was distributed to 478 students residing in on-campus housing at three Iraqi public universities. SHF, SRS and resilience were measured using validated scales. Data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling to test direct and moderated effects. Findings The results show that SHF integration has a significant positive impact on SRS (β = 0.64, p < 0.001). Resilience significantly moderates this relationship (β = 0.21, p < 0.01), indicating that students with higher resilience experience greater SRS from SHF. The SRS index scored a mean of 3.61 out of 5, indicating a generally high level of SRS among respondents. Practical implications The study provides facility managers and university housing departments with actionable evidence of the importance of integrating smart technologies and supporting student resilience. Improved SHF design, coupled with resilience training programmes, may boost SRS, retention and institutional reputation. Originality/value This research extends the SRS literature by combining facility innovation (SHF) with student-centred psychological factors (resilience) in a post-conflict context. It offers a novel model relevant to universities across developing regions aiming to modernise their campus facilities.