Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Faculty Leadership in Malaysian Higher Education Digital Transformation

Artificial intelligence is changing teaching, learning, research, administration, evaluation, and institutional decision-making, making it a defining force in higher education. The national digital transformation strategy in Malaysia, which includes MyDIGITAL, the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap, the National AI Office, and higher education digitalization plans, is directly associated with the implementation of AI in higher education. However, leadership, faculty preparedness, governance, trust, ethics, and institutional change management are more important for the successful deployment of AI in higher education than technology acquisition alone. As part of a larger digital revolution, this conceptual paper explores how Malaysian university administrators may assist professors in embracing AI. The essay suggests a faculty-centered institutional change management framework based on digital transformation literature, change management theory, responsible AI principles, and Malaysia's national policy background. The leadership vision, faculty capability development, participatory governance, ethical and responsible AI use, curriculum and assessment redesign, and ongoing evaluation are the six strategic components that make up the framework. The paper makes the case that academics shouldn't be viewed as passive AI system users. Rather, they ought to be positioned as academic leaders in AI-enabled education, co-designers, and critical evaluators. By providing institutional leaders looking to execute AI adoption in ways that are inclusive, ethical, pedagogically meaningful, and in line with Malaysia's digital future, the essay adds to the conversation around leadership in higher education.

Artificial intelligence, Malaysia digital transformation, Higher education leadership, faculty development, institutional change management

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