ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS IN BUSINESS EDUCATION CURRICULUM: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping higher education and the business environment, creating new opportunities to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and professional practice. This study examined the role of AI in enhancing business education by integrating theory, research, and industry-relevant practice. A quantitative desciptive research design was employed, using a structured questionnaire to collect data from business education stakeholders. The empirical findings were complemented by a review of contemporary literature to provide contextual insights. The findings identified three major constraints to AI integration in business education: inadequate adoption of AI-driven pedagogical models, weak collaboration between academia and industry in developing AI-enabled learning experiences, and limited digital pedagogical competencies among educators. Conversely, the study revealed significant opportunities to strengthen business education through AI-based simulations, real-time data-driven industry projects, and AI-powered personalized learning and career guidance systems. These innovations have the potential to enhance students' critical thinking, digital competencies, employability, and workplace readiness while enabling educators to adopt more innovative and evidence-based teaching approaches. The study further identified ethical concerns relating to algorithmic bias, data privacy, and academic integrity, alongside inadequate technological infrastructure and institutional resistance to pedagogical change, as key barriers to effective AI adoption. To address these challenges, the study recommends integrating AI literacy and responsible AI practices into business education curricula, strengthening academia–industry partnerships, investing in continuous professional development for educators, and implementing supportive institutional and policy frameworks. The study concludes that AI has significant potential to transform business education by promoting curriculum innovation, improving graduate employability, and fostering stronger alignment between academic research and industry practice. Sustained collaboration among educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders is essential to ensure the ethical, inclusive, and sustainable implementation of AI in business education.