AI and Sustainability-Oriented Teaching: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Lecturers’ Perspectives from Four Countries

Authors

  • Sri Yusriani Universiti Sains Malaysia
  • Endi Rekarti Universitas Terbuka
  • Haniruzila Hanifah Universiti Sains Malaysia
  • Bendaoud Nadif Sultan Moulay Slimane University
  • Muji Gunarto Universitas Bina Darma

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61194/ijss.v7i3.2289

Keywords:

artificial intelligence, green behavior, higher education, sustainable learning innovation, Qualitative Method

Abstract

This exploratory qualitative study examines how lecturers perceive artificial intelligence (AI) as supporting green behavior in higher education through sustainability-oriented teaching practices, responsible digital use, and institutional adaptation. Although AI adoption, sustainability education, and green behavior have been widely discussed, limited qualitative evidence explains how lecturers interpret the relationship between AI use and sustainability-oriented academic practice. This study clarifies AI-supported green behavior as lecturers’ perceived use of AI to support resource-conscious teaching, digital material optimization, responsible digital practice, ethical academic decision-making, and pedagogical redesign aligned with sustainability values. A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews with seven lecturers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Denmark, and Morocco. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that lecturers perceived AI as supporting sustainability-oriented academic practices by reducing repetitive workload, enabling cognitive reallocation, strengthening digital material optimization, raising ethical concerns, and highlighting the importance of institutional readiness, lecturer self-efficacy, and adaptive academic leadership. AI does not automatically produce green behavior; rather, its contribution depends on ethical governance, lecturer capability, institutional support, and sustainability-oriented academic culture. This study offers lecturer-centered qualitative insight into AI as a potential enabler of responsible and sustainability-oriented teaching innovation.

Author Biographies

Sri Yusriani, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Sri Yusriani is a doctoral researcher at the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and an HRM practitioner with international professional experience in Denmark. Her research centers on self-efficacy, AI-based entrepreneurial education, digital transformation, organizational resilience, and sustainable human resource management. She has published on digital trust, remote work readiness, entrepreneurial intention, and innovation-driven education in the AI era. Her interdisciplinary scholarship integrates Social Cognitive Theory, digital governance, and entrepreneurship education to advance human-centered innovation in emerging economies. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sri-Yusriani

 

Endi Rekarti, Universitas Terbuka

Endi Rekarti is a senior lecturer in the Master of Management Program at Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia. His research focuses on strategic management, adaptive leadership, digital transformation, and sustainability in higher education. He has published in peer-reviewed international journals on leadership effectiveness, institutional competitiveness, and educational innovation. His recent work explores governance models and digital adaptation strategies within emerging economy contexts. He actively supervises postgraduate theses and contributes to curriculum development initiatives centered on innovation-oriented management education.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Endi-Rekarti 

 

Haniruzila Hanifah, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Haniruzila Hanifah is a faculty member and senior lecturer at the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Her research expertise includes organizational behavior, strategic innovation, knowledge management, and sustainable entrepreneurship. She has contributed to international research on innovation ecosystems, leadership dynamics, and performance management in higher education and business organizations. She supervises doctoral research and actively participates in international collaborative projects related to digital transformation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Haniruzila-Hanifah

Bendaoud Nadif, Sultan Moulay Slimane University

Bendaoud Nadif is a Professor at Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Morocco. His research focuses on educational leadership, institutional reform, cross-cultural management, and governance in higher education. He has published extensively on academic transformation and quality assurance systems in North African and international contexts. His work contributes to global discourse on sustainable educational development and digital governance in emerging regions. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bendaoud-Nadif-3 

Muji Gunarto, Universitas Bina Darma

Muji Gunarto is an Associate Professor and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, Indonesia. His research interests focus on economics, management, and applied quantitative analysis in business and public sector studies. He has contributed to various academic publications and collaborative research projects in the field of economic development and organizational studies. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Muji-Gunarto

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Published

2026-07-31

How to Cite

Yusriani, S., Rekarti, E., Hanifah, H., Nadif, B., & Gunarto, M. (2026). AI and Sustainability-Oriented Teaching: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Lecturers’ Perspectives from Four Countries. Ilomata International Journal of Social Science, 7(3), 1059–1068. https://doi.org/10.61194/ijss.v7i3.2289

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Vol. 7 No. 3 (2026): July 2026

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Sri Yusriani, Endi Rekarti, Haniruzila Hanifah, Bendaoud Nadif, Muji Gunarto

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