The Challenge of Traditional Paper- Based Education in the Context of Digital Transformation: A Case Study of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Benghazi

Abstract

This study investigated the persistent reliance on traditional paper-based handouts as the primary instructional resource at the Faculty of Arts University of Benghazi, despite the rapid advancement of digital transformation in higher education, The study aimed to assess students’ dependence on paper-based handouts, examine their acceptance of digital learning content, identify the challenges associated with paper-based education, and investigate differences in students’ responses according to gender, age, and experience in using modern technologies. A descriptive-analytical research design was employed; Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha = %72), The questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of )323(students from the Faculty of Arts, University of Benghazi, After excluding incomplete and invalid questionnaires, )250(valid responses were retained for statistical analysis, representing a response rate of )77.4%( The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the one-sample t-test, the independent-samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings indicated a high level of students’ reliance on paper-based handouts (3.74), a high level of acceptance of digital learning content (3.96), and a very high level of perceived challenges associated with dependence on paper-based education (4.10), with all three dimensions being statistically significant at the)0.05( level, The results further revealed no statistically significant differences in students’ responses attributable to gender or age, Furthermore, the results revealed no statistically significant differences in students' responses attributable to gender, age, or experience in using modern technologies across all study dimensions. The findings provide empirical evidence that may assist higher education institutions in developing policies and strategies that support digital transformation and reduce reliance on traditional paper-based instructional practices.