Presenting a Digitalization Model in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences with Emphasis on Improving Educational Quality and Learning

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive digitalization model in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences with an emphasis on improving educational quality and student learning. Methodology: This applied study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 academic and managerial experts and analyzed using systematic grounded theory. In the quantitative phase, a researcher-made questionnaire based on qualitative findings was distributed among 280 faculty members, administrators, and experts selected through cluster random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings: The results of the structural model indicated that educational digitalization had a significant positive effect on educational quality and learning. All hypothesized relationships were statistically significant, and path coefficients highlighted the strong role of factors such as student–teacher interaction, digital teaching methods, and digital content quality. The coefficients of determination and predictive relevance indices demonstrated acceptable explanatory and predictive power of the model. Conclusion: The findings suggest that digitalization, as a multidimensional approach, can effectively enhance educational quality and learning outcomes when infrastructural, pedagogical, interactive, and skill-based dimensions are simultaneously addressed; therefore, successful implementation requires comprehensive strategies, targeted policies, and the development of digital competencies in higher education institutions.