Determinants of Cloud Computing Adoption for Academic Work Among Postgraduate Students in Kwara State, Nigeria

The contemporary academic landscape increasingly relies on digital tools and internet-based platforms to facilitate learning and research. This study investigated the determinants of cloud computing adoption for academic work among postgraduate students in Kwara State, Nigeria. Guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, the study examined awareness, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. Employing a descriptive research design with a cross-sectional survey approach, structured questionnaires were administered to 375 postgraduate students selected through multi-stage and purposive sampling techniques across three universities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, independent t-tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings revealed that postgraduate students possess a high level of awareness and actively adopt cloud computing resources such as email and cloud storage for academic work. Furthermore, performance expectancy emerged as a strong, statistically significant positive determinant of cloud computing adoption. While gender showed no significant differences in effort expectancy or overall adoption behavior, students' academic areas of specialization significantly influenced their adoption patterns. The study highlights the need for institutional frameworks and targeted awareness campaigns to encourage seamless cloud technology integration among postgraduate researchers.