AI literacy as a strategic leadership capability in higher education

Alaa Mohasseb; Petronella Beukman; Andreas Kanavos

AI literacy as a strategic leadership capability in higher education

Alaa Mohasseb^*
, Petronella Beukman
, Andreas Kanavos

^*Corresponding author for this work

Portsmouth AI and Data Science Centre

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in higher education systems, AI literacy is emerging as a critical leadership capability for enabling effective human–AI collaboration. This study examines how AI literacy influences leadership effectiveness and proposes a strategic AI Literacy Leadership Framework for higher education. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 52 academic leaders across UK higher education institutions and complemented by semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that AI literacy underpins effective decision-making, supports innovation, and facilitates responsible governance and policy development in contexts where AI technologies increasingly shape institutional practices. The proposed framework positions AI literacy as a foundational enabler of strategic leadership in AI-augmented environments and provides practical guidance for integrating AI literacy into leadership development programmes within universities.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of 1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026) 23/04/26 → 24/04/26 Athens, Greece
Publisher	Springer Nature
Publication status	Accepted for publication - 17 Mar 2026
Event	1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026) - University of West Attica, Athens, Greece Duration: 23 Apr 2026 → 24 Apr 2026 Conference number: 1 https://haicai2026.uniwa.gr/

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
ISSN (Print)	2367-3370
ISSN (Electronic)	2367-3389

Conference

Conference	1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026)
Abbreviated title	HAICAI 2026
Country/Territory	Greece
City	Athens
Period	23/04/26 → 24/04/26
Internet address	https://haicai2026.uniwa.gr/

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence
AI Literacy
Educational Leadership
Higher Education
Human–AI Collaboration

Cite this

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title = "AI literacy as a strategic leadership capability in higher education",

abstract = "As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in higher education systems, AI literacy is emerging as a critical leadership capability for enabling effective human–AI collaboration. This study examines how AI literacy influences leadership effectiveness and proposes a strategic AI Literacy Leadership Framework for higher education. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 52 academic leaders across UK higher education institutions and complemented by semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that AI literacy underpins effective decision-making, supports innovation, and facilitates responsible governance and policy development in contexts where AI technologies increasingly shape institutional practices. The proposed framework positions AI literacy as a foundational enabler of strategic leadership in AI-augmented environments and provides practical guidance for integrating AI literacy into leadership development programmes within universities.",

keywords = "Artificial Intelligence, AI Literacy, Educational Leadership, Higher Education, Human–AI Collaboration",

author = "Alaa Mohasseb and Petronella Beukman and Andreas Kanavos",

year = "2026",

month = mar,

day = "17",

language = "English",

series = "Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

booktitle = "Proceedings of 1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026) 23/04/26 → 24/04/26 Athens, Greece",

address = "United Kingdom",

note = "1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026), HAICAI 2026 ; Conference date: 23-04-2026 Through 24-04-2026",

url = "https://haicai2026.uniwa.gr/",

}

Mohasseb, A , Beukman, P & Kanavos, A 2026, AI literacy as a strategic leadership capability in higher education. in Proceedings of 1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026) 23/04/26 → 24/04/26 Athens, Greece. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, Springer Nature, 1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026), Athens, Greece, 23/04/26.

AI literacy as a strategic leadership capability in higher education. / Mohasseb, Alaa ; Beukman, Petronella; Kanavos, Andreas.
Proceedings of 1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026) 23/04/26 → 24/04/26 Athens, Greece. Springer Nature, 2026. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - AI literacy as a strategic leadership capability in higher education

AU - Mohasseb, Alaa

AU - Beukman, Petronella

AU - Kanavos, Andreas

N1 - Conference code: 1

PY - 2026/3/17

Y1 - 2026/3/17

N2 - As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in higher education systems, AI literacy is emerging as a critical leadership capability for enabling effective human–AI collaboration. This study examines how AI literacy influences leadership effectiveness and proposes a strategic AI Literacy Leadership Framework for higher education. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 52 academic leaders across UK higher education institutions and complemented by semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that AI literacy underpins effective decision-making, supports innovation, and facilitates responsible governance and policy development in contexts where AI technologies increasingly shape institutional practices. The proposed framework positions AI literacy as a foundational enabler of strategic leadership in AI-augmented environments and provides practical guidance for integrating AI literacy into leadership development programmes within universities.

AB - As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in higher education systems, AI literacy is emerging as a critical leadership capability for enabling effective human–AI collaboration. This study examines how AI literacy influences leadership effectiveness and proposes a strategic AI Literacy Leadership Framework for higher education. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 52 academic leaders across UK higher education institutions and complemented by semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that AI literacy underpins effective decision-making, supports innovation, and facilitates responsible governance and policy development in contexts where AI technologies increasingly shape institutional practices. The proposed framework positions AI literacy as a foundational enabler of strategic leadership in AI-augmented environments and provides practical guidance for integrating AI literacy into leadership development programmes within universities.

KW - Artificial Intelligence

KW - AI Literacy

KW - Educational Leadership

KW - Higher Education

KW - Human–AI Collaboration

UR - https://haicai2026.uniwa.gr/

M3 - Conference contribution

T3 - Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

BT - Proceedings of 1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026) 23/04/26 → 24/04/26 Athens, Greece

PB - Springer Nature

T2 - 1st International Conference on Human–AI Collaboration and Augmented Intelligence (HAICAI 2026)

Y2 - 23 April 2026 through 24 April 2026

ER -

AI literacy as a strategic leadership capability in higher education

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

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Cite this