Artificial Intelligence and the Training of Administrators: Reflections from a Distance Education Program at UFRRJ
artificial intelligence; distance education; administration training; digital competencies; data culture.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the central drivers of transformation in management practices and organizational processes. However, its presence remains limited in the training of business administration professionals, particularly in distance education programs offered by public institutions. In this context, this study aims to analyze how students enrolled in the Administration program at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), in the Distance Education modality through the CEDERJ Consortium, perceive the relevance of AI in their educational trajectory. This is a basic research study with a mixed-methods approach, descriptive and exploratory in nature, structured as an institutional case study. The project was approved by the UFRRJ Research Ethics Committee, and the data collection instrument is currently in its pilot phase, used to assess the clarity and adequacy of the questions. At this stage, the study is progressing toward analyzing the required adjustments and preparing for the definitive data collection. It is expected that, upon completing data collection and subsequent analysis, the findings will contribute to a broader understanding of how AI is perceived by students within the context of public distance education, as well as identify challenges and opportunities related to its role in formative processes.