Bianqi Sun, Ying Gu, Jian Liu

Jian Liu

March 31, 2026

Generative AI, Digital literacy, Faculty development, AI ethics, Sustainable framework.

The rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into higher education has transformed faculty roles, requiring educators to evaluate AI outputs, redesign assessments, manage ethical risks, and guide students in AI-mediated environments. Existing digital competence frameworks (e.g., TPACK and DigCompEdu) predate large-scale public GenAI systems and therefore fall short in addressing prompt literacy, multimodal generation, retrieval-augmented systems, and institutional governance needs.This conceptual paper proposes the Synergistic Digital Literacy (SDL) Model as a sustainable, internationally adaptable framework for college faculty. The model integrates four interlocking dimensions—AI Fluency, Pedagogical Intelligence, Ethical Vigilance, and Digital Citizenship—connected by an AI Literacy Helix (a continuous cycle of diagnosis, design, enactment, and renewal). Drawing on UNESCO (2024), OECD (2026), NIST (2024), and recent higher education reviews, the framework reconceptualizes digital literacy as a dynamic, institutionally embedded capability rather than a static skill set. Practical implementation pathways include an institutional readiness audit, differentiated faculty development routes, localized co-design of AI pedagogy playbooks, and ongoing renewal mechanisms. The SDL Model offers higher education leaders a human-centered, ethically grounded blueprint for building faculty capability that adapts to rapid technological change.

© 2026, the Authors. Published by ISCCAC

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license