INTEGRATING AGENTIC AI IN HIGHER EDUCATION: BALANCING OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, AND ETHICAL IMPERATIVES

Abstract

The integration of Agentic artificial intelligence (AI) into Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) presents transformative potential for reconfiguring pedagogical paradigms through personalized learning architectures and adaptive skill development. However, disparities in institutional readiness and unexamined ethical governance threaten to exacerbate systemic inequities and erode human agency. Synthesizing insights from Zhu and Wang’s (2025) language education case studies, Katsarou et al.’s (2023) systematic review, and Atoyan et al.’s (2025) analysis of developing economies, this study proposes a tripartite framework—AI literacy development, ethically grounded infrastructure, and Competence-based educator training—to reconcile scalability with equity imperatives. Findings reveal Agentic AI enhances metacognitive engagement but risks cognitive dependency and cultural homogenization when implemented passively. Complementary evidence from Yan et al.’s (2025) research on generative AI underscores the urgency of strategic interventions that balance automated efficiency with pedagogical intentionality, positioning HEIs as adaptive forces in AI-driven ecosystems.