Unlocking success: management students' perceptions of a smart campus experience

Purpose This study examines management students' perceptions of the key success factors associated with smart campus environments in the Gulf region and contributes to the emerging literature on technology-enabled higher education. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was used in this study. In the qualitative research phase, relevant items were extracted in line with a proposed smart campus framework using inductive and deductive analyses. This was followed by a quantitative research phase to collect data from 215 students in the Gulf countries. Findings The results from an empirical exercise indicate that smart governance, smart interaction, smart environment and smart technology positively affect students' perceptions of success in higher education. However, students based in the Gulf countries did not perceive that smart infrastructure had a positive impact on students' perceptions of higher education success. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study provide insights for policymakers and educational administrators to design effective strategies for smart campuses aligned with evolving market needs. The study also shows the growing importance of digital learning ecosystems in the post-pandemic era. Originality/value This study is among the first to empirically investigate management students' perceptions of smart campus success factors across multiple Gulf countries, offering a region-specific perspective on smart education.