Vol. 21, Issue 1, Jan-Jun 2026

Page: 82-106

Social Interactions and Academic Leadership in Iraqi Universities Amid the Spread of Artificial Intelligence: An Analytical Study

Abd-Al-Ameer Farha Haje

Received Date: 2026-01-18

Accepted Date: 2026-02-17

Published Date: 2026-04-28

This research aims to analyze the relationship between social interactions and academic leadership in Iraqi universities in light of the increasing diffusion of artificial intelligence applications. The study is based on the assumption that artificial intelligence is no longer merely a supportive technical tool in higher education, but has become an influential factor in reshaping university relations, communication patterns, academic collaboration, decision-making processes, and institutional management. The research adopts an analytical approach by examining the key concepts related to social interactions, academic leadership, and artificial intelligence, and then analyzing the impact of this technology on teacher–student relationships, student interactions, academic and research collaboration, and the balance between digital interaction and human engagement. The research finds that artificial intelligence can contribute to improving the quality of education, accelerating access to knowledge, supporting academic collaboration, and enhancing data-driven university decision-making. However, these benefits do not occur automatically. Unregulated use may weaken direct dialogue, reduce scientific originality, increase dependence on digital tools, and raise challenges related to privacy, academic integrity, and institutional trust. Therefore, the study argues that academic leadership represents the decisive factor in directing the impact of artificial intelligence within universities. This role is exercised through policy development, digital capacity building, ethical governance, regulation of use, and preservation of the human dimension of the educational process. The research concludes that building a smart and responsible Iraqi university requires a balanced integration of technology, institutional policy, continuous training, ethical governance, and meaningful human interaction. Such a balance enables universities to benefit from artificial intelligence without undermining their social, educational, and academic functions.

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