Digital Transformation in Educational Institutions: Developing a Sustainable Educational Management Framework for the Artificial Intelligence Era
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Abstract
Digital transformation in educational institutions has become one of the most significant issues in educational management in the twenty-first century, particularly in the context of generative artificial intelligence (AI), which has fundamentally transformed teaching and learning, data management, policy decision-making, and human capital development within educational organizations. This article aims to develop a sustainable educational management framework for the artificial intelligence era by employing a conceptual synthesis approach based on the literature on digital transformation, digital leadership, AI governance, intelligent educational infrastructure, future competency development, and sustainable development. The synthesis resulted in the development of the Sustainable AI-Driven Educational Management Framework (SAIEM Framework), which consists of six interrelated dimensions: (1) Strategic Digital Leadership, (2) AI Governance, (3) Intelligent Educational Infrastructure, (4) Human–AI Collaboration, (5) Future Competency Development, and (6) Sustainable Educational Outcomes.
The findings suggest that successful digital transformation should not regard technology as the ultimate objective of organizational development. Rather, technology should be viewed as a strategic enabler governed by ethical principles, transparency, accountability, and human-centered development. Furthermore, the proposed framework aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The SAIEM Framework therefore provides both theoretical and practical contributions for educational leaders, policymakers, and researchers seeking to design sustainable, intelligent, and human-centered educational systems in the era of artificial intelligence.