Rethinking Data Privacy for AI Adoption in African Higher Education: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of Stakeholder Perceptions and Policy Implications

The growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in African higher education offers opportunities for personalized learning, improved decision-making, and educational innovation. However, AI systems rely heavily on student and institutional data, raising significant privacy concerns within contexts characterized by evolving regulations, infrastructural challenges, and diverse socio-cultural norms. This study examines student and educator perceptions of data privacy in AI-enhanced learning and explores how these perceptions influence AI adoption in Sub-Saharan African higher education institutions. Guided by the ENTREQ framework and PRISMA procedures, a qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted on 18 studies published between 2020 and 2025. Data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. The synthesis was informed by Privacy Calculus Theory and Contextual Integrity Theory. Findings indicate that students are primarily concerned about data security, transparency, consent, surveillance, and potential misuse of personal information. These concerns are intensified by limited digital literacy and infrastructural constraints. Educators acknowledge the pedagogical benefits of AI but emphasize governance, institutional accountability, ethical oversight, and capacity development. While both groups advocate stronger privacy protections and transparency, students focus on personal control and vulnerability, whereas educators prioritize compliance and governance. Privacy concerns reduce trust and constrain AI adoption, particularly in environments with weak regulatory and institutional safeguards. AI adoption in African higher education is shaped by privacy risk evaluation, contextual expectations regarding data use, and institutional trust. Strengthening governance frameworks, transparency, and institutional capacity is essential for responsible AI integration and sustainable adoption across the region.