How to Conceptualize the AI-Driven Transformation in Higher Education Institutions

10 pages•Published: November 6, 2025

Katja Mankinen, Antti Mäki and Hanna-Mari Puuska

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a transformative shift in universities and universities of applied sciences, affecting research, education, and societal engagement. As AI rapidly evolves, HEIs must navigate its impact on all their core missions, research, education, industry collaboration, societal interaction, and administrative tasks. While previous studies have explored AI’s role in specific areas, a comprehensive framework for managing AI transformation across all HEIs’ tasks has been lacking.

To address this, we introduce the AITO Framework (AI in Innovation, Research, and Education), designed to help HEIs conceptualize and analyze AI's effects on their core activities. The framework, developed through collaborative training sessions and workshops with Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences, consists of four layers—technical base, application, change, and impact—and organizes AI-related changes within HEIs’ four activities: research, education, collaboration and partnerships, and support functions. The framework draws significant inspiration from discussions held during the 2024 training series for rectors of universities of applied sciences and from the ongoing AI workshop series for university rectors in 2025. As a use case of the implementation of the AITO framework, a training concept is implemented to support HEIs in structuring AI-driven changes.

By integrating the AITO Framework into AI management, HEIs can enhance decision-making, support strategic development, and strengthen their role in shaping AI-driven innovations. The framework can also be applied in other research and education institutions, public administration, and even other industries, with minor modifications. Future assessments will evaluate the long-term impact of AITO framework on AI transformation and innovation creation within HEIs.

Keyphrases: ai, ai transformation, artificial intelligence, development of ai, hei management, higher education institutions, utilization of ai

In: Laurence Desnos, Raimund Vogl, Lazaros Merakos, Carmen Diaz, Janina Mincer-Daszkiewicz and Stuart Mclellan (editors). Proceedings of EUNIS 2025 annual congress in Belfast, vol 107, pages 186-195.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/svjZ
	https://doi.org/10.29007/17dh

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{EUNIS2025:How_Conceptualize_AI_Driven,
  author    = {Katja Mankinen and Antti Mäki and Hanna-Mari Puuska},
  title     = {How to Conceptualize the AI-Driven Transformation in Higher Education Institutions},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of EUNIS 2025 annual congress in Belfast},
  editor    = {Laurence Desnos and Raimund Vogl and Lazaros Merakos and Carmen Diaz and Janina Mincer-Daszkiewicz and Stuart Mclellan},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Computing},
  volume    = {107},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2398-7340},
  url       = {/publications/paper/svjZ},
  doi       = {10.29007/17dh},
  pages     = {186-195},
  year      = {2025}}

Download PDF Open PDF in browser