Navigating opportunities and challenges of generative AI in higher education: towards responsible, equitable, and human-centered integration

The rapid emergence of generative AI (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT, presents transformative potential for higher education (HE) while also raising significant ethical, pedagogical, and policy- related concerns. This systematic and thematic review, based on 46 documents from the Web of Science (WoS), narrows its qualitative analysis to 27 peer-reviewed articles to explore key trends in implementation. Findings highlight GenAI’s benefits in improving personalized learning, self-regulated strategies, and adaptive feedback. However, critical issues persist, particularly regarding academic integrity, data privacy, equity, and responsible governance. Core themes include AI literacy, technology acceptance, ethical oversight, and the imperative for culturally responsive integration. The study underscores the need for stakeholder collaboration to ensure the ethical and effective integration of GenAI in education. When applied thoughtfully, GenAI holds significant promise in reshaping educational practices while safeguarding fundamental academic values.