The Role of Heads of Academic Departments in Promoting the Culture of Digital Transformation at Tabuk University

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the role of heads of academic departments in promoting the culture of digital transformation at Tabuk University from the point of view of faculty members, and to know the significance of the differences between their responses according to some variables. The study followed the descriptive survey method, and the study questionnaire was applied to a sample consisting of (280) faculty members at Tabuk University. The results showed that the role of department heads in promoting the culture of digital transformation at Tabuk University, in general (total), was high, with an average of (3.86). The role of department heads in promoting the culture of digital transformation in the three dimensions came at a high level, as the “digital learning” dimension ranked first, followed by the “digital strategy” dimension, and then the “digital empowerment” dimension. The results also showed that there are statistically significant differences at the level of (0.05 ≥ α) between the average responses of the respondents about the role of heads of academic departments in promoting the culture of digital transformation at Tabuk University, attributed to the variable of the number of training courses in digitization in favor of (6 courses or more). On the other hand, the results showed that there are no statistically significant differences attributed to the variables of gender and academic department. Several recommendations were made, including: making use of the study tool in preparing a guide on the necessary roles of academic leaders in promoting the culture of digital transformation at Tabuk University, and providing incentives to heads of academic departments who play their roles in promoting the culture of digital transformation in those departments.