University students’ engagement with mobile device and its academic impacts in developing countries: Lesson from Sokoine University of Agriculture – Tanzania

2025 IJRSE – Volume 14 Issue 1

Available Online:  15 February 2025

Author/s:

Saidi, Kangomba P.*
Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania (saidikangomba70@gmail.com)

Makwinya, Noel Mark
Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania (noel.mark@sua.ac.tz)

Abstract:

The increasing use of mobile devices for various purposes is marked globally, though there are concerns about the differences in usage between students in developed and developing countries, potentially leading to academic performance disparities. This cross-sectional study investigated patterns of engagement with mobile devises among university students at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Tanzania, and its impact on their academic performance. The study involved 1,012 second and third year undergraduate students from two of SUA’s largest campuses. Respondents voluntarily responded to the online shared 5-point Likert scale researcher-prepared questionnaire, previously piloted with 70 first-year students.  Descriptive statistics summarized the data, while a Chi-square test assessed the relationship between mobile device usage for learning and academic performance. Results indicated that students predominantly used mobile devices for learning compared with non-learning purposes, with accessing educational materials being the most common activity for which the students used mobile devices. Furthermore, the study revealed positive albeit insignificant relationship between mobile device usage for learning and academic performance. The study suggests that policymakers consider implementing blended courses to influence students’ mobile device usage habits. Additionally, educators are encouraged to integrate more online activities into their teaching to optimize students’ use of mobile devices for academic purposes.

Keywords: mobile devices, mobile device usage, academic performance, university students, developing countries

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25010

Cite this article:
Saidi, K. P., & Makwinya, N. M. (2025). University students’ engagement with mobile device and its academic impacts in developing countries: Lesson from Sokoine University of Agriculture – Tanzania. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 14(1), 181-193. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25010

* Corresponding Author