Abstract

This study sought to explore university leaders’ perspectives on AI strategic change and AI-era leadership. The study focused on academic culture, educational leadership, and pedagogy among students and educators. AI is transforming institutions into data-driven, creative, and future-proof colleges, driving intellectual, social, and economic progress through ethical and inclusive engagement. The application of IPA is intended to better understand strategic change in university management and AI adoption. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the effective strategic use of AI and its impact on leadership and organizational transformation in Omani higher education. The interview data were analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to reveal higher-education AI integration leading practices, challenges, and opportunities. This study interviewed ten Omani university leaders at the administrator level, including administrators with leadership experience and strategic decision-making. The study found that AI enhances learning, critical thinking, and creativity. AI is inspiring higher education in Oman. It enables the automation of attendance and grading, accelerates HR and admissions, improves strategic planning and decision-making, and fosters innovation. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the effective strategic use of AI and its impact on leadership and organizational transformation in Omani higher education. On the other hand, slow adaptation and poor data infrastructure are problems. Digital transformation requires ingenuity, investment, and funding for new ideas in AI and digital infrastructure from leadership. Leaders understood that AI integration needed conversations and good relationships with many different groups. Policy gaps and the need for national coordination to develop a clear national AI roadmap for higher education.