The Mediating Role of Student Satisfaction on Student Commitment during the Digitalization Era

The present study uses a proposed model to explore satisfaction and commitment of students in an online learning environment. First, it presents the key determinants of student satisfaction and their impact on student commitment. Second, it examines the significance impact of each of the three key determinants namely course structure, online tutorials flexibility and technology quality on both student satisfaction and commitment.

A sample of 410 students enrolled in an Egyptian higher education institution pursued an online questionnaire through Survey Monkey. This study uses structured equation model approach for data analysis that was gathered online. However, the only determinant namely course structure had insignificant effect on both student satisfaction and student commitment. Specifically, both key determinants namely online tutorial flexibility and technology quality had a significant influence on student satisfaction as well as student commitment. In addition, the mediating role of student satisfaction was tested and had positive influence between the key determinants and student commitment except with course structure.

The study highlights the issue of commitment as a behavior of students in an online learning environment and their satisfaction bonded with key determinants. The context is limited to one higher education institution in an online learning environment. Further research is needed to investigate the key determinants in other higher educational institutions in Egypt and could be extended to other countries if possible. This study will be useful for academics and educators interested in the behavior of students in e-learning through the digitalization era.