The Utilization of Artificial Intelligence by School Administration and Its Relationship to Achieving Competitive Advantage in Government Schools in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to explore the extent to which school management utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and its relationship with achieving a competitive advantage in public schools in Oman. The descriptive correlational approach was adopted, and data were collected using a questionnaire administered to a randomly selected sample of 376 teachers. The findings revealed that the degree of AI utilization in school management within public schools in Muscat and Al-Dakhiliyah governorates was moderate overall. Additionally, no statistically significant differences were found at the significance level of (α ≤ 0.05) in respondents' perceptions of AI utilization based on the study variables: gender, job title, and educational governorate. The study also showed that, from the teachers’ perspectives, the degree of achieving a competitive advantage in public schools in the two governorates was generally high across all dimensions. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were observed in the respondents' views on achieving competitive advantage across dimensions based on job title and governorate variables. Importantly, the study identified a statistically significant positive and strong correlation (α = 0.01) between the extent of AI utilization in school management and the degree of achieving competitive advantage in public schools. Based on the results, the study recommended greater attention to employing AI in education, particularly in school management, as it provides significant opportunities for achieving distinctive competitive advantages. It also emphasized the need to develop and offer training programs for teachers and administrators to enhance their skills in integrating emerging AI technologies into their current practices.