Integrating Emerging Technologies in Virtual Learning Environments: A Comparative Study of Perceived Needs among Open Universities in Five Southeast Asian Countries
Amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution, students at Southeast Asian open universities urgently require emerging technologies to enhance learning engagement and professional competence within virtual learning environments. Method: This study employs a large-scale, cross-national survey across five open universities, complemented by needs-priority analysis, grounded in established educational technology adoption models and learning analytics frameworks. It constitutes the first empirical, comparative investigation of its kind in the region. Contribution/Results: Findings reveal that interactive e-textbooks and learning analytics tools are the two highest-priority technological functionalities identified by students. Based on these results, the study proposes a learner-centered, data-driven, and experience-oriented regional technology adoption roadmap. This framework offers both theoretically grounded insights and actionable guidance to support pedagogical innovation and digital transformation in Southeast Asian open universities.