Generative AI Alignment with Learning Environments in Higher Education
A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102). This special issue belongs to the section "Higher Education".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 2545
Special Issue Editors
Interests: digital education; teacher training; teacher identity; language education; education policy; digital equity and inclusion; higher education; teacher educator competencies; higher education in Africa; learning design
Interests: technology-enhanced learning; generative AI; professional development; education leadership; systematic reviews
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The rapid evolution of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is redefining how knowledge is created, communicated, and applied in higher education. GenAI represents not only a technical advancement but also a pedagogical and cultural turning point, with the potential to transform learning, foster inclusivity, and drive innovation in teaching and professional development.
This Special Issue examines how GenAI aligns with, transforms, and reimagines learning environments across global higher education contexts. It invites critical and empirical contributions that explore how educators and students engage with GenAI to enhance creativity, reflection, and collaboration, while acknowledging the ethical, social, and cultural dimensions of its use.
By addressing opportunities and challenges—such as equity, bias, and digital literacy—this Special Issue aims to strengthen understanding of how GenAI can contribute to sustainable, culturally responsive educational ecosystems. It emphasises the importance of human–AI collaboration in supporting diverse learning identities and pedagogical innovation grounded in fairness, transparency, and accessibility.
This Special Issue addresses gaps in the literature by calling for evidence on how GenAI is used in real classrooms, how it affects diverse learners, and how institutions can adopt GenAI in equitable and sustainable ways.
Submissions may include empirical studies, theoretical or conceptual papers, methodological contributions, case studies, and reflective practice reports.
Proposed Themes
- Pedagogical Alignment and Teaching Innovation;
- Student Agency, Identity, and Learning with AI;
- Ethics, Fairness, and Responsible Use;
- Culturally Responsive and Inclusive AI Practices.
Dr. Felix Kwihangana
Dr. Nashwa Ismail
Dr. Yara Abdelaty
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Education Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- higher education
- pedagogical innovation
- culturally responsive teaching
- learning environments
- ethical AI in education
- student agency and identity
- human–AI collaboration
- educational transformation
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