Learner autonomy in the digital environment of Omani higher education institutions: Sultan Qaboos University as a case study

Purpose: Learner autonomy has been a subject of many studies in the past few decades. The term refers mainly to the construction of the learner’s ability to participate in taking responsibility for his/her learning. This paper attempts to explore the needs of autonomous learners in the digital environment at Omani higher education institutions. Design/methodology/approach: The study has adopted mixed methods approach. A triangulation approach of collecting data is adopted in this paper to identify the above needs. Questionnaires, interviews, and observations have been used as tools for collecting required data. Findings The results show the importance to pay attention to the participation of students in choosing and creating the assignments and academic assessments because of its impact on stimulating their interest and enhancing their confidence in learner autonomy, decision-making and assignments. It is …