Abstract:
Electronic learning (E-L) is a profound transition that is occurring in education as a new learning
platform in countries across the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all higher education institutions in Sri Lanka to adopt e-learning to maintain sustainable teaching. This study identified
the relationships between the main influencing factors of e-learning usage behavior and, in turn,
sustainability in teaching. The theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was used to formulate the research
framework and hypotheses. The population of the study was comprised of permanent academics
attached to Sri Lankan public universities under the patronage of UGC. The sample size was 357
for the given population size of 5399, and a stratified sampling technique was used to select the
sample. The study used a quantitative method under the philosophical assumption of positivism.
The researchers have applied Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test the path association
among factors. The result explores the path relationship between exogenous and mediating
variables, mediating to an endogenous variable. The research outcome shows that attitude and
perceived behavioral control influence e-learning usage but not the subjective norm. While
behavioral intention mediates the relationship between attitude and perceived behavioral
control and e-learning usage, the latter mediates the association between behavioural intention
and sustainability in teaching. Gender, academic position, and computer literacy level moderate
the causal relationships of the factors influencing sustainability in teaching. Finally, this study
concludes that Attitude, Perceived Behavioural Control, Behavioural Intention, and E-learning
Usage Behaviour is the factor influencing sustainability in teaching. This study recommends
universities develop infrastructures, train staff members and establish an office for sustainability
development. Furthermore, it recommends that future researchers do longitudinal studies and
adopt decomposed TPB.
