The Significance of Digital Learning for Sustainable Development in the Post-COVID19 World in Saudi Arabia’s Higher Education Institutions

The research method is well written. PRISMA research method was used in the research. BUT it should be written that PRISMA is "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses".

 In addition, reference should be written about PRISMA. Apostrophes in words in tables are not good. Columns can be expanded. Care was taken to write the tables used in the research in the form of APA6 standard. Figure 5 is unreadable because of its low resolution.

Author names are given in Tables 3,4 and 5. I don't find it very appropriate to give names. Yes, it may be required in terms of evidence. But I think it is important for the authors to reconsider this issue. Also, there is no many-to-lower sorting by cite or year in the table. It is important to do.

In the research, the discussion and conclusion sections were written as one. It would be better if these sections were written separately.

It has been more than a decade since the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement was first published, and it has since become one of the most recognised reporting recommendations.

PRISMA statement reference is also added

Changes the tables according to suggestions by the reviewer

I revised the table 3,4, and 5 as per the suggestion by the reviewer

Followed the revisions and both sections discuss separately

The abstract must be specified, in the presented form it is a section of the parts mentioned in chapters 1 and 2, it will be appropriate to specify and justify the research model,

Similarly, the conclusion is too descriptive, on the one hand I appreciate the graphical representation of the results, which is clear, on the other hand from but this does not result in an abstracting generalization.

 Overall, the article is too descriptive, without the ambition to go deeper into the causes, the comparison with foreign approaches is limited, it would be appropriate to add a wider spectrum of authors from other parts of the world.

Possible regional specificities and transferable experiences could result from this. Research chapters with extensive citations are up to chapter 4, which is followed by Discussion and conclusion. Considerable effort is invested in the article, it has the potential for publication, but I recommend deepening it to a greater degree of analysis and adding at least some sources from other parts of the world in order to objectify the descriptive material from a regional source.  

 The Abstract is discussing the aims, research gap and findings of the current study. I amended it according to the advice of the reviewer.

Conclusion reshaped from the discussion

The study's scope was limited to the Saudi University environment, and the conversation was restricted to Saudi Arabis alone. We advised future researchers to compare their findings and outcomes with those of other countries.

The citations of other sources are also added for the current study.

This is a well-written paper with a solid methodology that covers an interesting topic. This paper aims to study the impact of digital learning on sustainable development in the higher education 16 institutions of Saudi Arabia in post covid 19 by highlighting the educational processes followed during the pandemic.

 However, there are few issues that need to be addressed.

1-     The novelty of this paper can be improved.   It is important to highlight the significance of conducting this research in a clearer manner.  Such novelty also should be reflected in the abstract.

2-     It is suggested to sperate the discussion and conclusion sections. The conclusion section should be the last section.  In conclusion, the authors are required to summarise the main objective, primary findings, and limitations and future work. 

3- The literature review can be improved by including recent and relevant literature related to e-learning research after COVID-19. This include:

- Towards a Sustainable Adoption of E-Learning Systems: The Role of Self-Directed Learning. DOI: https://doi.org/10.28945/4980

- CrossQuestion Game: A Group-Based Assessment for Gamified Flipped Classroom Experience Using the ARCS Model. DOI:https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11568

-  The Effects of Online Learning on Students’ Performance: A Comparison between UK and Jordanian Universities. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v16i20.24131

We mended the novelty section and talked according to the scope of the article. Additionally, amended in the abstract part of the article.

We separated the discussion and conclusion part, and also the limitations of the study are discussed in the below part with future agenda.

The study also used the references for the improvement of the literature

I do not think that the content analysis performed on the literature review serves the purpose of answering the research question.

The references are not relevant.

The discussion does not add to the current knowledge.

We used the content analysis as the theme identification process, and the study scope and gap is a Systematic Literature review.

We used some of the updated references for the current study

The discussion and conclusion section is amended and also discussed separately

A more suitable title can be chosen.

The color selection in Figure 5 can be reviewed.

The significance of digital learning for sustainable development in the post-COVID19 world in Saudi Arabia's higher education institutions. A systematic Literature Review of the COVID-19 context

The outcome of the study showing colourfully is the purpose of figure 5.  

Comment

Answer

Is the content succinctly described and contextualised with respect to the previous and present theoretical background and empirical research (if applicable) on the topic?

Are all the cited references relevant to the research?

Are the research design, questions, hypotheses and methods clearly stated?

Are the arguments and discussion of findings coherent, balanced and compelling?

For empirical research, are the results clearly presented?

Is the article adequately referenced?

Are the conclusions thoroughly supported by the results presented in the article or referenced in secondary literature?

 Updated the theoretical background in the study

We used the updated references and amended the previous one

Given this background, this paper aims to study the effect of digital learning on sustainable development in the higher education institutions of Saudi Arabia in post covid 19 by highlighting the educational processes during a post-pandemic situation. Additionally, analyse the obstacles and prospers of digital learning in Saudi higher education institutes. On the other hand, this study would help to understand the current state of knowledge and education in universities. Furthermore, understanding how to enhance the examined state based on the recommendations presented in this study is critical.

(updated)

The recent pandemic for Saudi higher education establishments resulted in substantial modifications. According to the findings, E-learning systems have acquired acceptance as excellent learning aids in higher education. Since traditional education (face-to-face) was unexpectedly forced to migrate online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a little rise in the number of e-learning systems delivering various sorts of services, indicating the usefulness of e-learning in higher education.

(updated)

This research operated a systematic review of the extant literature intending to understand digital learning’s effect on the sustainable development of higher education institutes in Saudi Arabia. The current study also assesses the current pandemic situation, which nearly altered the entire educational paradigm in both developed and developing nations. For the data extraction, we used two well-known databases, Scopus and Web of Science. Finding the appropriate records for the current study was the goal. Additionally, we used the PRISMA statement 2020 to determine which documents to include and exclude because social science researchers frequently employed this approach [58]. The top 42 articles from a respected journal were chosen for the piece. In the following stage, three main themes were selected from the literature and classified using the VOS viewer key terms occurrences and content analysis.

Updated

Findings demonstrate a substantial and positive relationship between higher education performance and Saudi Arabia's higher education institutions, as well as their potential for digital transformation, their capacity for improvisation, and their organisational readiness [52]. In addition, higher education has a commitment and an essential role in reframing education for sustainability in addition to its two conventional duties of research and teaching. On the other hand, technology has made it much easier for people domestically and outside to access resources. Technology-assisted learning has become increasingly common in Saudi Arabia for sustainable development. Finally, the findings indicate that the adoption and use of educational technology in countries' educational systems during the COVID-19 era led to the development of a new pedagogy that required the integration of digital platforms in the teaching process for improved comprehension.

The changes in the revised manuscript are not substantial.

I revised most of part of the article as per the direction given by the respected reviewer 4