Tangerang City is characterized by its dense residential, commercial, and industrial activities and strategic proximity to Jakarta. This study aims to evaluate the strategic planning and implementation of innovative city initiatives in Tangerang, Indonesia, focusing on integrating blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) big data technologies and innovation in urban development. This study has employed explanatory survey data from a structured questionnaire distributed to a diverse Tangerang community sample, including users and non-users of the “Smart City Tangerang Live” application. The survey was conducted for 2-months March to April 2022, included 71 and the sample included individuals across 13 districts, utilizing cluster sampling to ensure representativeness. The findings reveal a positive community response towards the smart city initiatives, with significant Engagement and interaction with the “Tangerang Live” application. However, technology access and usage disparities among different community segments were noted. The study highlights the critical role of intelligent technologies in transforming urban infrastructure and services, improving the quality of life, and fostering sustainable urban development in Tangerang. The implications of this study are multifaceted. For urban planners and policymakers, the results underscore the importance of strategic planning in innovative city development, emphasizing the need for inclusive and accessible technological solutions. The study also suggests potential areas for improvement in community engagement and public awareness campaigns to promote the adoption and efficient use of smart technologies.

In order to assess the effects of e-learning integration on university performance and competitiveness, this study uses Oman as a model for the Gulf. Analyzing how e-learning impacts technology integration, diversity, community engagement, infrastructure, financial strength, institutional reputation, student outcomes, research and innovation, and academic quality can reveal whether universities are effectively incorporating digital tools to enhance teaching and learning. By offering a framework for comparable institutions in the Gulf area, this study provides insights into optimizing e-learning techniques to improve university performance and competitiveness. This study uses the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with a dataset comprising 424 participants and 55 indicators, analyzed using both measurement and structural models. The results of the hypothesis testing, which indicate that e-learning has a positive effect on factors like student outcomes (B = 0.080, t = 2.859, P = 0.004) and institutional reputation (B = 0.058, t = 2.770, P = 0.005), lend credence to these beliefs. Omani universities need culturally sensitive e-learning, stronger institutional support, and training to enhance diversity (B = 0.002, t = 0.456, P = 0.647) and technology integration (B = −0.009, t = 0.864, P = 0.387). These improvements increase the visibility of Gulf institutions abroad, attracting the best students from all around the world and fostering an inclusive learning atmosphere. Financially speaking, e-learning offers reasonably priced solutions such as digital libraries and virtual laboratories, which are especially beneficial in a region where education plays a major role in socioeconomic development.