The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education, reshaping teaching, learning, research, and institutional governance. From predictive analytics and adaptive learning platforms to generative AI tools and algorithm-driven decision-making, emerging technologies are redefining what it means to lead effectively in this new era. These profound shifts bring both opportunities and challenges, requiring higher education leaders to rethink strategies, policies, and practices to remain relevant and resilient. This research topic invites scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to explore leadership in higher education within the AI era. We seek contributions that examine how leaders are responding to technological disruptions, integrating AI into strategic planning, and addressing the complex ethical, social, and pedagogical implications of AI adoption. The goal is to highlight innovative frameworks, best practices, and future-ready strategies that empower leaders to navigate uncertainty while ensuring equity, inclusion, and academic integrity.

Potential areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• AI-Driven Leadership Models: Frameworks and strategies for Utilizing AI in decision-making, policy planning, and institutional transformation.
• Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum Innovation: Leadership approaches for integrating AI into curricula, personalizing learning, and preparing students for AI-enabled futures.
• Building AI Literacy and Leadership Capacity: Professional development programs and leadership training that prepare administrators, faculty, and students to thrive in AI-enhanced environments.
• Resilience and Future Scenarios: Using AI-powered foresight tools to anticipate disruptions, workforce shifts, and global challenges impacting higher education.
• Anticipatory Leadership and its implications in the AI Era.

We welcome empirical studies, conceptual papers, case studies, systematic reviews, and practitioner insights from diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives. Submissions that bridge research and practice or highlight global and cross-cultural contexts are especially encouraged. By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives, this research topic aims to deepen the understanding of how higher education leaders can embrace AI as a driver of innovation while maintaining a strong commitment to ethics, inclusion, and educational excellence. As institutions navigate an era of rapid technological change, effective leadership will be critical in shaping sustainable and equitable futures.

The rapid integration of AI into higher education is reshaping teaching, learning, research, and governance while posing significant leadership challenges. Leaders must address ethical dilemmas, algorithmic bias, data privacy, and equity concerns while utilizing AI to drive innovation. Recent advances in generative AI, predictive analytics, and adaptive learning provide opportunities to personalize education, enhance institutional decision-making, and streamline operations. This Research Topic explores leadership strategies, frameworks, and practices to guide responsible AI adoption, foster institutional resilience, and ensure that innovation aligns with academic integrity, inclusion, and the broader mission of higher education. We believe that leadership includes strategic direction, ethical governance, and building institutional capacity, so we focus more on implementation in this proposal.

Interdisciplinary perspectives and global or cross-cultural approaches are particularly encouraged to provide a comprehensive understanding of leadership challenges and opportunities in AI-enhanced higher education. Join us in shaping the conversation about leadership in the AI era and its role in transforming higher education.

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Artificial Intelligence and Leadership: Shaping the Future of Higher Education