Optimizing educational management with artificial intelligence in Indonesian higher education: A qualitative exploration

The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming educational management worldwide, including in Indonesian higher education. This study aimed to explore how AI can optimize administrative processes, enhance decision-making, and improve institutional efficiency in this context. Using an exploratory case study design, data were collected from ten participants comprising university administrators, faculty members, students, and IT staff through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns and themes within the data. The findings revealed that AI significantly improves efficiency in enrollment, scheduling, and grading while supporting data-driven decision-making through predictive analytics. Despite these benefits, challenges such as data privacy concerns, cultural resistance, and insufficient infrastructure were highlighted as barriers to effective adoption. Participants emphasized the need for tailored AI solutions, robust ethical frameworks, and comprehensive stakeholder engagement to address these challenges. This research concludes that AI has transformative potential in educational management but requires context-sensitive implementation strategies. A limitation of this study is its general exploration of AI without examining specific tools used by participants, suggesting a need for future research to investigate the impact of distinct AI technologies in educational settings. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to leverage AI to enhance higher education management in Indonesia.