Artificial intelligence in higher education: Impact depends on support, pedagogy, human agency, and purpose

This editorial introduces a special issue that explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping higher education. Drawing on 16 empirical and one conceptual studies, the issue highlights how AI tools are being integrated into teaching, learning, assessment, feedback, and institutional policy. A key finding across the contributions AI’s impact in education is not determined by the technology itself, but by how it is pedagogically framed, ethically guided, and supported by people and institutions. The studies in this special issue emphasise the importance of motivation, self-regulated learning, responsible use, and inclusive design, alongside the risks of over-reliance, bias, and shallow implementation. Together, the contributions of the studies raise the need for supported, pedagogically driven, human-centred, and purpose-driven approaches to AI adoption in higher education.