Call for Papers: Beyond the Digital Divide: Centering Equity, Identity, and Justice in Artificial Intelligence-Mediated International Education

2026-04-20

We are accepting papers for a special issue of the Journal of International Students focused on how artificial intelligence is reshaping international education through the lenses of equity, identity, and justice, with particular attention to underrepresented and global perspectives.

This volume critically examines the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and international education, moving beyond techno-solutionist narratives to explore how AI tools (e.g., admissions algorithms, large language models) reshape power dynamics, cultural expression, and pathways to belonging. It prioritizes the experiences of marginalized communities, including scholars and students from the Global South, Indigenous groups, and diasporic populations.

Rationale:

The dominant discourse on AI in education is shaped by the Global North and tech industry stakeholders, overlooking complex realities in under-researched contexts. This issue addresses the urgent need to interrogate AI not as a neutral tool, but as a critical site where issues of racial justice, decolonization, and ethical internationalization are contested.

Scholarly Significance:

The issue fills a critical gap by bridging disciplinary divides (e.g., computer science, critical race studies) and geographic divides. It amplifies voices from underrepresented regions to challenge celebratory AI narratives, offering actionable insights into how algorithmic systems impact student success, mental health, and transnational identity.

Themes of the special issue, but not limited to:

  • Algorithmic Power and Inequality in Global Education
  • AI, Language, and Epistemic Hierarchies
  • Decolonizing AI in International Education
  • Lived Experiences of Marginalized Students and Scholars
  • AI, Identity, and Transnational Belonging
  • Surveillance, Data Ethics, and Student Autonomy
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing in AI-Mediated Education
  • Policy, Governance, and Ethical Internationalization
  • Resistance, Agency, and Alternative AI Futures
  • Interdisciplinary and Methodological Innovations

Contact
For submissions and inquiries, please email our editor, Dr. Anuj Kumar, Professor and Global Country Head, Rushford Business School, Switzerland at anuj.kumar@rushford.ch 

Submission Guidelines

  • Submit manuscripts in Word (.doc/.docx) format
  • Follow APA 7th edition style guidelines
  • Ensure the manuscript aligns with the scope of international education
  • Include abstract (150–250 words) and 5–7 keywords
  • Prepare manuscripts for double-blind peer review (remove identifying information)
  • Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis
  • Selected papers will be included in the special issue; others may be considered for regular issues

We encourage submissions that are theoretically grounded, methodologically rigorous, and globally relevant.

Submit your paper here: New authors, please register to create an account before submission
Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026

Academic Editors:

  • Prof. (Dr.) Anuj Kumar – Professor and Global Country Head, Rushford Business School, Switzerland
    Email: anuj.kumar@rushford.ch
  • Prof. (Dr.) Asokan Vasudevan, Dean, Faculty of Business and Communication, INTI International University, Malaysia, E: asokan.vasudevan@newinti.edu.my
  • Dr. Prabha Kiran, Head of WIUT Business Case Center, Westminster International University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, E: pkiran@wiut.uz
  • Dr. Guruprasad Desai, Department of Commerce, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India, E: guruprasad.desai@manipal.edu