ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN ALGERIA

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly emerging as a key driver of modernization in higher education, reshaping learning processes, pedagogical practices, and institutional governance. In developing contexts such as Algeria, AI is not merely a technological innovation but a strategic instrument for enhancing institutional efficiency, modernizing university administration, and improving the quality of educational services. Drawing on recent literature and an analysis of national digital and AI-related policies, this article assesses the readiness of Algerian universities to integrate AI, using theoretical lenses from smart governance, socio-technical systems, and public value theory. The findings highlight a dual dynamic: on the one hand, national digital transformation strategies are fostering an environment conducive to AI adoption; on the other, structural constraints persist, including low digital maturity, fragmented governance, limited technical and managerial capacities, the absence of a comprehensive legal and ethical framework, and enduring territorial disparities. The study also identifies significant opportunities, notably the potential role of higher education as a catalyst for innovation and a driver of broader public sector transformation. The article concludes by offering strategic recommendations to support a responsible, inclusive, and sustainable integration of AI within Algerian universities.