The Actual Adoption and Use of Mobile Apps : The Case of a Higher Education Context

Abstract

Mobile applications have gained wide acceptance in several sectors, including eCommerce and education. In higher education, mobile apps are being used not only for mobile learning but also for creating smart campus environments in which physical campuses are augmented with digital services. Mobile apps for smart campus initiatives usually have several features that students and educators are expected to adopt and use. However, although prior studies have investigated the adoption of mobile apps, most of such studies are on the user's intention to use or continue using mobile apps, leaving gaps in our understanding of how actual use occurs. Drawing on a case study of a mobile app for a smart campus in a university in Finland, this study unravels the factors that influence actual adoption and post-adoption use of mobile apps in higher education context, and how the influence occurs. The implications for research and practice are discussed.