LEVERAGING EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO FOSTER SECURITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study investigated leveraging educational management and artificial intelligence to foster security for sustainable development in public universities in Rivers State. Three specific objectives and three research questions guided the study. The population of the study consisted of three thousand six hundred and twenty (3, 620) lecturers in the three public universities in Rivers State). Stratified random sampling technique was used to draw seven hundred and twenty-four (124) lecturers comprising of 68 male and 56 female lecturers. A structured questionnaire titled leveraging educational management and artificial intelligence to foster security for sustainable development questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. 124 copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents, and all were retrieved and used for the study. Based on the results of question one of the study cyberattacks threats, examination malpractice, and academic fraud, lack of adequate security infrastructure some of the major security challenges faced by public universities in Rivers State in the digital age. Allocating sufficient budget for modern security infrastructure and personnel and enforcing strict disciplinary measures against criminal activities such as cultism, examination malpractice and harassment are some of the ways management contribute to improving security for sustainable development/ Also, Smart CCTV cameras, automated emergency alert systems and biometric access control systems are some of the key-driven technologies that can enhance security for sustainable development. Based on these findings the recommendations made include higher institutions should conduct regular security risk assessments to identify and address emerging threats, including cyberattacks, physical security breaches, and unauthorized access; institutional management should prioritize security in policymaking by integrating security considerations into their strategic planning and institutions should adopt AI-powered security tools, including facial recognition, AI-driven surveillance cameras, and predictive analytics, to enhance real-time threat detection and response.