This research proposes an empirical model for cloud computing adoption by the higher education institutions. Successful migration to cloud computing by higher education institutions (HEIs) depends on well definition for transition strategies which requires deeply understanding the factors affect cloud adoption by the HEIs. This research will provide a framework that shows the factors that influent the Somali HEIs to adopt cloud computing paradigm, and the researchers aimed to develop an implementation strategy that will enable the HEIs in Somalia to adopt easily and effectively to the cloud computing. So, the researchers employed a case study strategy which is appropriate for investigating a contemporary research phenomenon; Somali higher education institutions are the case study applied in this research. This research adopts quantitative research approaches. Nonetheless, a survey is used to provide an exploratory snapshot of the cloud computing adoption by the Somali higher education institutions (HEIs). Questionnaires were conducted to identify whether the HEIs in Somalia interest to adopt cloud computing and the questionnaires were conducted to reveal the level of understanding cloud computing and the factors that effect to adopt cloud computing. The analysis of the collected d through the questionnaire was undertaken using descriptive statistics as well as frequency analysis using SPSS V20.0 which is useful for the analysis of quantitative data means it is used for survey authoring, data mining, and statistical analysis.
Keywords: Adoption of cloud computing by higher education institutions; Quantitative study of cloud adoption, Cloud computing adoption model
