Supplementary_Materials_Five-Element_Model

Against the backdrop of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and rapid Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancement, higher education is in dire need of sustainable transformation. This study examined the "Faculty-Student-AI-Environment-Culture" five-element synergistic model via a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design (431 survey responses, 42 semi-structured interviews in China). The five elements explained 48.5% of teaching effectiveness variance, with AI Synergy and Cultural Adaptability as core drivers; disciplinary/institutional disparities and digital divide/faculty anxiety as key barriers. A "Layered Empowerment-Precise Adaptation-Dynamic Optimization" path was developed, offering scalable guidance for global institutions aligned with SDG 4.