The effect of informal academic support on innovation capability of postgraduate students in the context of digital transformation: multiple mediating effects of psychological capital and learning engagement

At present, artificial intelligence are driving education toward digital and intelligent transformation. Fundamental changes are occurring in knowledge production and learning methods within educational fields. As the backbone of scientific and technological innovation, cultivating the innovative capability of postgraduate students has become a vital mission. While existing academic research has accumulated substantial empirical findings on the factors influencing innovation capability, there remains a lack of attention to informal academic support, such as supervisors' informal guidance, peer academic assistance, etc. To address this gap, this study conducted a survey among 2168 Chinese postgraduate students to examine the impact mechanism of informal academic support on innovation capability in the context of digital transformation. The results show that informal academic support influences innovation capability in a positive way. Informal academic support influences innovation capability in a positive way through psychological capital. Informal academic support influences innovation capability in a positive way through learning engagement. Informal academic support influences innovation capability through the sequential mediation of psychological capital and learning engagement. These findings expand the theoretical boundaries of current research on high-level talent cultivation and provide theoretical basis and practical implications for universities to optimise postgraduate education amid the context of digital transformation.