Paper Title
SOCIALLY ASSISTIVE ROBOTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS VIA THE UTAUT MODEL

Abstract
The integration of robots in education is becoming increasingly dynamic. A particularly relevant topic is the use of socially assistive robots (SAR) in higher education institutions. This study presents students' attitudes towards the use of SAR in the educational process. A total of 199 students from various specialties at "Paisii Hilendarski" University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, participated in the survey. A structural equation model (SEM) was used in the context of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), which includes factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. The results indicate that the model is largely good and reliable for assessing students' attitudes towards the use of socially assistive robots in the educational process, as all major UTAUT factors provide insight into students' understanding and acceptance of these technologies. Keywords -Human-Robot Interaction, Socially Assistive Robots, Acceptance, Higher Education, UTAUT Model