APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ENHANCING FACULTY RESEARCH PRODUCTION TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: AN EVIDENCE FROM A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY OF SAUDI ARABIA

Objectives: The purpose of present study was to identify the role of ICT to achieve sustainable development goals of university by enhancing faculty research production at PNU.   Theoretical Framework: Information Communication Technology (ICT) has impacted faculty research productivity in higher education. Any university's Sustainability and ranking depend on the caliber of its research output and the quality of the instruction they provide. High-quality research output raises a university's stature and reputation nationally and internationally. Hence faculty research productivity of any university helps to achieve the sustainable development goals of any educational institute.   Methods: Both primary and Secondary data were used for the study. Secondary data included the examination of databases of Scopus and Web of science to examine the Published research. Primary data included a survey in the form of interviews. Interviews were conducted among faculty members selected randomly from 2500 faculty members teaching different college courses. Interviews were conducted in the various departments of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University with a minimum of two faculty from each college.   Results and Discussions: It was found that although there is a significant association between the ICT integration by faculty in research activities and their research productivity, researcher characteristics and institutional support also played a significant role in enhancing faculty research productivity at PNU. The results indicated that the integration of ICT had a positive and significant impact on faculty Research Productivity. However, institutional support such as Funding, Research Environment, Rewards and Promotion, and teaching load had the highest impact on Research Productivity.   Research Implications: The findings of the study are useful for educational institutes and university to frame their research policies to encourage faculty research.Implementing proper research Funding policies is essential to encourage research productivity in the university, The findings suggest that although teachers are ICT skilled, the institute must provide adequate research training workshops to create awareness about various ICT tools and software for research analysis.   Originality/Value: Universities are taking numerous steps worldwide to encourage the research culture among their academic personnel. The present research is providing measures for improving ICT utilization among the academic staff in higher education in Saudi Arabia.