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IntroductionIn recent years, educational institutions worldwide have increasingly embraced technology as a means of enhancing the learning experience and adapting to the demands of the modern era. This trend toward digital transformation has become even more pronounced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated a rapid shift to remote learning modalities. Learning Management Systems (LMS) have emerged as crucial tools for educational continuity, enabling institutions to deliver course materials, facilitate communication, and manage student progress in virtual environments. However, the success of LMS implementation varied among educational institutions, with some achieving seamless transitions while others encountered challenges stemming from students' reluctance to fully embrace the technology. This paper contributes to the understanding of LMS adoption in higher education institutions in Dubai, UAE, by proposing a comprehensive model based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and enhanced with modern factors that fit the nature of virtual learning.MethodsEmploying a quantitative research approach, the study utilized the main structure of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to propose an enhanced version of factors that might influence students' acceptance of online learning management systems. To collect the necessary data, a self-administered survey questionnaire was distributed to 500 students, ensuring a comprehensive dataset for analysis. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), a robust statistical technique suitable for complex models with latent variables. This method allowed the researchers to empirically validate the proposed model, assessing the impact of various modern factors tailored to the nature of virtual learning environments.ResultsThe study's empirical findings revealed several significant factors influencing students' intentions to use LMS, including personal innovation, perceived utility, system quality, service quality, and information quality. While system quality encompasses the technical aspects and functionalities of the LMS, information quality focuses on the relevance, accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the system's content.DiscussionThese insights provide valuable guidance for educational institutions in Dubai and beyond, offering actionable recommendations for optimizing LMS implementation strategies to enhance student engagement and educational outcomes in the digital learning landscape.

IntroductionSocial networking websites and applications are increasingly becoming significant cultural phenomena. However, the motivation driving individuals to utilize these platforms, particularly in the Middle East, remains unclear. While numerous studies have explored technology adoption, limited research has investigated social media usage in the UAE. Therefore, this study proposes and empirically analyzes a framework based on a modified version of the Technology Acceptance Model to understand the factors influencing users’ opinions, objectives, and actual usage of social media platforms, focusing on Facebook.MethodsTo investigate these factors, we employed structural equation modeling and smart PLS techniques on a sample of 540 participants. We aimed to identify predictors such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, as well as a hedonic dimension encompassing perceived enjoyment, curiosity, and perceived connectedness, in shaping users’ attitudes towards Facebook usage. Additionally, we examined the relationship between social presence and users’ intentions to use Facebook.ResultsOur analysis revealed that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are significant predictors of users’ attitudes towards utilizing Facebook. Furthermore, the hedonic dimension, comprising perceived enjoyment, curiosity, and perceived connectedness, also plays a crucial role in shaping users’ attitudes. Moreover, social presence was found to have a significant association with users’ intentions to use Facebook.DiscussionThese findings contribute to our understanding of the factors influencing the adoption and usage of social media platforms, particularly in the context of the UAE. By highlighting the importance of both utilitarian and hedonic aspects, this research provides insights into the complex motivations behind individuals’ acceptance of dynamic applications like Facebook. Furthermore, our empirical model lays the groundwork for exploring additional factors that may influence the uptake of information systems and social media utilities, thereby advancing attitude-behavior theories in this domain.

This paper aims to investigate the impact of innovation on three macroeconomic indicators: GDP, self-employment, and foreign direct investment (FDI). The study analyses a sample of 120 countries using the Global Innovation Index (GII) and its constituent sub-indices and pillars, which provide a holistic evaluation of national innovation. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita measures a country’s economic output, self-employment assesses entrepreneurial activity, and FDI indicates confidence in a country’s economic prospects and innovation trends. This study analyzes the data using generalized-linear and panel-corrected standard-error models. The results show that innovation positively influences GDP, domestic institutional framework, local infrastructure, local knowledge and technology, and creative outputs. In contrast, innovation negatively correlates with domestic self-employment, often associated with necessity-driven entrepreneurship. The study concludes that innovation positively affects human resources, research, and creative outputs and has no significant impact on FDI. The findings suggest that a practical regulatory framework, institutional support, domestic human capital, research and development, infrastructure, technology, and creative outputs are essential for a vibrant economy. National innovation policies supporting the GII and its constituent factors can positively affect the economy while reducing self-employment.