17100-3 Future-Proofing Educators in the Age of AI: Unveiling the Power of Career Adaptability Between Digital Resilience and Work Engagement

Abstract

As higher education enters the era of Society 5.0, educators face increasing demands to remain professionally engaged while adapting to rapid digital transformation and AI integration. Yet, little is known about the psychological mechanisms that enable them to sustain engagement in such environments. This study examines whether career adaptability serves as a mediator in the relationship between digital resilience and work engagement among university lecturers in Indonesia. The guiding research question is: Does career adaptability explain how digital resilience influences work engagement? A total of 164 university lecturers from various faculties participated in this study, selected using convenience sampling, with its limitations addressed in the full paper. Data were collected using three validated instruments: the Digital Resilience Scale, the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). The mediation model was tested using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro version 4.2 (Model 4). Results showed that digital resilience does not directly predict work engagement but exerts a significant effect through career adaptability. This finding highlights career adaptability as a key psychological resource that allows educators to align their personal goals and competencies with the shifting demands of AI-driven academic systems. The study offers theoretical contributions to digital well-being literature and provides practical implications for higher education institutions. Beyond digital training, universities should foster adaptability through reflective learning, coaching, and playful work design, a strategy that promotes creativity, autonomy, and engagement in evolving educational contexts. In sum, this research emphasizes that empowering educators with adaptive capacities is crucial for sustaining work engagement and professional well-being in an AI-integrated future.