Transformational AI Leadership in Technical and Vocational Education: Reimagining Pedagogical Personalization and Industry Readiness through Intelligent Systems

Artificial intelligence is redefining educational leadership and reshaping the mandate of technical schools and vocational colleges. In Malaysia, this includes nine Technical Secondary Schools and eighty-six Vocational Colleges governed by the Ministry of Education. These institutions must now prepare students who are adaptable, ethically aware, and industry ready in alignment with the Dasar Pendidikan TVET (2025) and Dasar TVET Negara (2023). This conceptual paper proposes a model of Transformational AI Leadership in which school leaders employ intelligent systems to promote pedagogical personalization and strengthen collaboration with industry. Drawing upon contemporary peer-reviewed scholarship, the paper integrates insights on AI adoption, leadership transformation, ethics, and professional capacity building. It argues that AI-enabled leadership cultivates a culture of innovation, enhances teaching efficiency, and equips students with digital competencies aligned with Education 5.0 and Industry 4.0 agendas. While the literature on AI in education is growing rapidly, its intersection with transformational leadership in technical and vocational education remains conceptually underexplored. Addressing this gap, the paper advances a synthesized framework to guide school leaders in integrating AI ethically and strategically within technical and vocational contexts.