<?xml version="1.1" encoding="utf-8"?>
<article xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="http://jats.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/1.1/xsd/JATS-journalpublishing1-mathml3.xsd" dtd-version="1.1" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">IEF</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>International Education Forum</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn>3083-4902</issn><eissn>2981-8605</eissn><publisher><publisher-name>Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty. Ltd.</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.26689/ief.v3i8.12063</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Article</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title>Research on the Challenges and Pathways of AI-Driven Digital Transformation in University Aesthetic Education</title><url>https://artdesignp.com/journal/IEF/3/8/10.26689/ief.v3i8.12063</url><author>CaoNannan,TongQin</author><pub-date pub-type="publication-year"><year>2025</year></pub-date><volume>3</volume><issue>8</issue><history><date date-type="pub"><published-time>2025-09-18</published-time></date></history><abstract>While artificial intelligence (AI) presents new opportunities for the digital transformation of aesthetic education in higher education, it also introduces significant challenges. These include an imbalance between instrumental and value rationality, a mismatch between technological capabilities and the needs of aesthetic education, inefficient resource development and sharing, outdated teaching models, and insufficient digital literacy, as well as gaps in evaluation systems. To address these issues, this study proposes a strategic framework for transformation: guiding technology use with the principle of “aesthetic cultivation”, developing a supportive and adaptive technological infrastructure, fostering a high-quality, shared digital resource ecosystem, redesigning human-AI collaborative teaching models, and establishing a multidimensional evaluation system that integrates technical and artistic criteria. These recommendations aim to facilitate the digital evolution of aesthetic education in the AI era, ultimately nurturing a new generation with refined aesthetic sensibilities and creative capabilities.</abstract><keywords/></article-meta></front><body/><back><ref-list><ref id="B1" content-type="article"><label>1</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Wang C, Zheng C, 2014, Value Rationality and Instrumental Rationality and Their Methodological Significance — Based on Max Weber’s Dichotomy of Rationality. Journal of University of Jinan (Social Science Edition), 24(2): 48–53.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B2" content-type="article"><label>2</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Xu Z, Chen Y, 2024, Connotation, Value Implication and Practical Approach of Curriculum Aesthetic Education in the New Era. Social Science Front, 2024(12): 273–280.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B3" content-type="article"><label>3</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Ministry of Education, 2023, Notice on the Comprehensive Implementation of the School Aesthetic Education Infiltration Action. http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A17/moe_794/moe_628/202401/t20240102_1097467.html</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B4" content-type="article"><label>4</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Mao Y, Li Y, 2023, The Reform of Aesthetic Education in the Digital Media Era: Difficulties and Transcendence. Journal of Qilu Normal University, 38(5): 29–36.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B5" content-type="article"><label>5</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Dong X, Zhang Y, 2023, Construction of College Aesthetic Education Curriculum Ecology from the Digital Perspective: Elements, Obstacles and Countermeasures. Chinese Art Research, 2023(3): 218–223.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B6" content-type="article"><label>6</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Yin X, 2025, Research on Digital Transformation Empowering High-Quality Development of Aesthetic Education. Dahe Art Newspaper, June 6, 2025, 8.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B7" content-type="article"><label>7</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Yang Z, 2024, Digital Development of Higher Education: New Characteristics, New Paradigms and New Paths. China Higher Education, 2024(Z1): 24–28.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B8" content-type="article"><label>8</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Guo W, 2025, From Technical Discipline to Artistic Sublimation: Reflection on Teaching Aesthetics in the Intelligent Era. Curriculum, Teaching Material and Method, 45(6): 54–62.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref></ref-list></back></article>
