Higher Education Governance in an Age of AI and Geopolitical Disruptions

Higher education is being reshaped by two simultaneous disruptions: rapid advances in artificial intelligence and intensifying geopolitical tensions that have contributed to anti-immigration sentiment, visa restrictions in traditional academic centers, and shifting patterns of student and staff mobility. AI is transforming teaching, assessment, academic integrity, and institutional decision-making, yet policy responses are often fragmented, punitive, or developed without meaningful student engagement and participation. At the same time, many universities in traditional destination countries have become financially dependent on international student enrolment, making them vulnerable to policy shocks and changing public attitudes. The rise of regional education hubs further challenges established models of internationalization. These developments require renewed attention to how higher education systems govern technological change, mobility, politics and ensure institutional resilience.The goal of this Research Topic is to advance interdisciplinary research on how governments, universities, leaders, educators, students, and other higher education actors respond to geopolitical and technological disruptions. It seeks to examine the regional, national and institutional policies, governance models, leadership strategies, and institutional practices needed to navigate the combined pressures of AI transformation, changing student and academic mobility, internationalization, and political uncertainty. This topic aims to bridge educational research with research on governance, international relations, public policy, and technology. It promotes Frontiers in Education’s focus on multidisciplinary research and further contributes to the journal’s sections on higher education and educational leadership. It encourages contributions that inquire: 1) how geopolitical shifts affect higher education systems; 2) how national regulators and institutions respond to technological changes, and (geo)political challenges; and 3) what strategies can strengthen institutional resilience, equity, and democratic participation in decision-making.We welcome submissions that examine the intersection of politics, internationalization, educational leadership, higher education governance, AI, and educational technology. Contributions may address national and institutional AI policies, student participation in policy design, visa regimes and international student and academic mobility, the financial dependence of universities on international enrolment, regional education hubs, geopolitical risk, softpower, leadership strategies, and institutional resilience. We particularly encourage empirical, comparative, conceptual, and policy-oriented manuscripts that investigate how higher education systems adapt to technological and geopolitical change. We are also open to systematic, scoping or mini reviews and policy and practice reviews.Suggested themes:AI governance and policy in higher education;Student voice, participation, and fairness in decision-making;Geopolitics and international student and academic mobility; Regional education hubs and shifting geographies of internationalization; Strategic leadership for institutional resilience;Higher education governance under technological and political uncertainty; Comparative policy responses to AI and geopolitical disruption;Higher education as a field of geopolitical competition and soft power;Strategic capacity-building through universities, research systems, and educational partnerships. Topic editors: Kairat Moldashev, Jasvir Kaur Nachatar Singh, Assylbek Nurgabdeshov, Ainur Almukhambetova, Sanat Kozhakhmet Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84249/higher-education-governance-in-an-age-of-ai-and-geopolitical-disruptions