CHANGING ASPECTS OF THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTANCE EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS DURING AI ERA: A CASE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate how the era of artificial intelligence is transforming the management of distance education institutions, based on the perspectives of faculty members with expertise in distance education and administrative roles. Conducted as a qualitative case study, the research was carried out at a public open education faculty in Turkiye and involved twelve faculty members (five full professors, six associate professors, and one assistant professor), all experts in distance education. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through thematic analysis. The results of the study point out that artificial intelligence is driving substantial changes in decision-making, leadership practices, technology integration, and the management of teaching and learning processes. These changes reflect both opportunities and challenges, especially concerning institutional readiness, ethical leadership, and equitable access. Building on these findings, the study highlights the critical need for human-centric strategies, organizational capacity, and ethical governance to promote the sustainable adoption of AI technologies in distance education.