Explaining the Impact of Intellectual Capital on Attaining Competitive Edge in Universities and Higher Learning Establishments in Western Afghanistan

Today, competitive advantage is a critical element often missing in many organizations, particularly those whose paths have not been smooth, causing them to fall behind their competitors. This disadvantage may be due to a lack of human capital, inadequate structures and work processes, or failure to establish proper communication with stakeholders. This study aims to elucidate the impact of intellectual capital on achieving a competitive advantage in universities and higher education institutions in the western region of Afghanistan.The research methodology was applied in terms of its objective and analytical approaches. The validity of the models and data collection tools was confirmed by experts and senior managers in the relevant fields. Construct quality was assessed using a confirmatory factor analysis. Considering that senior managers of universities and higher education institutions in western Afghanistan constitute the statistical population of this study, a convenience sampling method was used to share the questionnaire link in related groups. Nineteen questionnaires were analyzed using the Kamakooma Research Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SmartPLS and SPSS software. The results indicate that all hypotheses were accepted and consolidated into a single hypothesis, demonstrating that intellectual capital (human, structural, and relational capital) has a positive and significant impact on achieving competitive advantage in universities and higher education institutions in western Afghanistan.