Mapping Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Educational Challenges and Opportunities – A Scoping Review

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into various sectors, including higher education (HE). Universities, particularly in Europe, are facing substantial challenges in adopting AI within academic settings, balancing the potential benefits with emerging educational risks. Existing re-search offers insights but lacks clear definitions and a comprehensive focus on the pedagogical implications and ethical concerns surrounding AI in HE. This gap calls for a more structured understanding of AI’s impact on teach-ing and learning practices. This scoping review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR ex-tension [58], maps and analyses the most recent secondary literature (2019-2024) to identify key educational challenges, emerging opportunities, and operational recommendations for AI adoption in higher education, with par-ticular attention to pedagogical and regulatory dimensions. The review followed a two-phase process consistent with PRISMA-ScR guide-lines: (1) systematic identification and selection of sources from major academic databases, using defined eligibility criteria; and (2) thematic syn-thesis of the selected studies, focusing on pedagogical challenges, ethical concerns, and operational recommendations. The review highlights the significant opportunities AI presents for enhanc-ing teaching, personalized learning, and administrative efficiency in higher education. However, it also emphasizes the challenges, including ethical concerns, data privacy, and resistance to change. The findings suggest that while AI has transformative potential, its successful integration requires care-ful planning, regulation, and ongoing research to address existing gaps and ensure ethical practices