The Role of Higher Education Curriculum Quality in Fostering Digital Skills of University Students

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between program curriculum quality and students’ digital skills, as well as the impact of six dimensions of digital skills on social studies students individually. A total of 148 students comprised the research sample. Technological or instrumental skills, communication skills, information skills, critical skills, personal safety skills, and device safety skills were the six dimensions of digital skills evaluated in the study. SmartPLS 4 was used to analyze data using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results demonstrated that the quality of the curriculum had a significant impact on the technological or instrumental skills, communication skills, information skills, and critical skills of the students. It was determined, however, that the quality of the curriculum has no significant effect on students’ personal safety skills. In addition, our findings demonstrated that the curriculum’s quality had a positive impact on device security skills. The results suggest that the quality of the curriculum plays an important role in shaping students’ digital competences, and that educational programs aimed at enhancing the development of digital skills should consider the multidimensional nature of digital skills and the role of the curriculum in promoting digital competences.