Rethinking University Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Ethics, Accountability, and Human-Centered Decision-Making

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence technologies in the governance of higher education appears to occur with record speed, altering the governance structures, the accountabilities, as well as the normative frameworks of universities. On the one hand, artificial intelligence technologies, through their integration in university governance, may serve as effective management tools that could enhance efficiency in the administration of the university. On the contrary, artificial intelligence technologies are also seen as challenging the prevailing governance structures, which were established with a focus on serving human actors. This article specifically critically rethinks university governance in the era of artificial intelligence. In essence, this particular piece of work examines, through the application of structural literature survey, the following particular dimensions of university governance in the era of artificial intelligence: the limitations of the prevailing structures in managing artificial intelligence-based decision-making processes in the university, as well as the role of ethical considerations in maintaining institutional legitimacy during the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies in university governance. The study contributes to this ongoing debate by specifying the conditions of governance through which artificial intelligence has a salutary effect on academic values, democratic accountability, and trust, as opposed to a detrimental effect, and thereby lays a basis for further research.