Introduction. The rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) presents higher education systems with the challenge of its effective and safe integration. This article provides a comparative analysis of strategies for GenAI integration into the educational, research, and administrative activities of universities in Russia and leading foreign universities in the United States, the European Union and China.
Aim. The aim of the study is to identify universal and context-dependent factors that shape GenAI integration strategies.
Methods. The research is based on an analysis of 27 current publications and institutional documents (for the period 2023-2025) selected from Scopus, Web of Science, RSCI (eLibrary.ru), Google Scholar, and CyberLeninka databases, as well as official documents and reports from leading universities. Comparative analysis and content analysis methods were employed.
Results. The study identified both universal factors and barriers to GenAI integration (e.g., AI competency deficits, the need to transform assessment systems, ensuring academic integrity), and significant regional differences in approaches to regulation, AI literacy development, adaptation of pedagogical practices, and ethical considerations. It was established that there is no single optimal path for GenAI integration; the effectiveness and safety of strategies are largely determined by national and institutional contexts, technological development levels, and cultural specifics. Scientific novelty.
The scientific novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive comparative analysis of GenAI integration strategies across different regional higher education systems, which revealed both common trends and barriers, as well as specific national approaches to the use and regulation of this technology.
Practical significance. The findings can serve as an informational and analytical basis for developing and adjusting national and institutional strategies for GenAI implementation in higher education, as well as for shaping approaches to international cooperation and the exchange of best practices in this field.