The first wave of comprehensive digitalisation, which accelerated transformation across all sectors of society, is increasingly being complemented and reshaped by a second wave of complex artificial intelligence applications. Digital transformation and AI are no longer separate developments; rather, they are becoming deeply intertwined. As a result, comprehensive digital strategies now routinely include approaches for expanding the use of AI (UNESCO, 2023; OECD, 2026; Scholkmann, 2024; Batista et al., 2024).

Given their broad and far-reaching impact, digitalisation and AI have become key pillars in the future strategic development of universities and higher education networks. Their implementation goes far beyond isolated technological solutions or the mere adoption of tools. Instead, they must be understood as part of a broader institutional transformation affecting university architectures, governance structures, pedagogical models and capacity-building processes. These dimensions need to be aligned, viewed holistically and embedded in integrated systems.

The paper builds on theoretical perspectives such as the network society and platform economy, as well as on broader approaches to socio-technical and transnational transformation. University and faculty development are increasingly embedded in interconnected national and international frameworks. Within this evolving landscape, transformations driven by both human and artificial intelligence are becoming a defining feature. Capacity building, likewise, is no longer limited to individual institutions but is increasingly shaped by networked educational ecosystems.

Against this background, the paper explores new models and concepts for the development of AI-enabled higher education systems and analyses how these can contribute to the transformation of the higher education landscape through concrete measures and activities. Particular attention is given to the interaction of institutional governance, learning architecture, capacity building and transnational networking. A central characteristic of these developments is the growing symbiosis between human and artificial intelligence in the design and implementation of future-oriented higher education structures.