CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP ON AI LITERACY AND ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP FOR PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS

Abstract

Digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping how schools are managed and led, widening the competencies expected of those who will run tomorrow’s schools. Beyond pedagogical expertise, prospective leaders increasingly need adaptive leadership, digital literacy, ethical judgment, and the ability to act on data. This community service program set out to strengthen these future-leadership competencies among pre-service teachers at Johor Business School, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). Delivered on 22 June 2026 within the ELEVATE 2026 program, the workshop used a participatory design that combined seminars, interactive discussion, case studies, reflective learning, and collaborative problem-solving. Its effect was gauged through paired pre-test and post-test assessments, participant observation, and reflective discussion. Average understanding rose from 60.6% to 87.8%, a gain of 27.2 percentage points, or 44.9% in relative terms, across five competency areas, with AI literacy improving most. Participants grew more confident in adaptive leadership, ethical AI use, data-informed decision making, and collaborative school culture. The program also deepened academic collaboration between Universitas Negeri Jakarta and UTHM. Pairing leadership development with digital literacy offers a workable route to preparing future school leaders for the AI era.