Transforming Workplace Learning and Development Through Artificial Intelligence: Bridging Knowledge Gaps and Enhancing Performance

CALL FOR PAPERS

Journal: Journal of Workplace Learning

Publisher: Emerald Publishing

Submission Opens: 1 March 2026

Submission Deadline: 1 June 2026

Introduction

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the workplace across industries, influencing how tasks are executed, skills are developed, and how organizations adapt to continuous change. Recent research in Human Resource Development (HRD) highlights the potential impact of AI technologies in workplace learning and development — ranging from AI-based coaching to productivity enhancement tools that support workplace learning.

Many HRD researchers and professionals agree that AI-augmented learning and development will bring a paradigm shift to organizations, presenting a complex landscape with both opportunities and challenges. Yet, the integration of AI in workplace learning and development remains an emerging area with limited empirical knowledge.

This knowledge is needed to guide organizations and HRD professionals in understanding the capacity of AI-integrated systems, building optimal strategies for responding to innovation in workplace learning and development, and effectively implementing changes at scale for sustained organizational growth. A pronounced gap also exists in the theoretical frameworks needed to underpin both research efforts and practical HRD interventions.

Scope & Significance

This special issue explores AI's transformative role in reshaping workplace learning and development. It aims to:

Advance knowledge in HRD scholarship and practice
Foster sustainable growth through data-driven insights and AI-augmented solutions
Bridge technological, organizational, and human perspectives
Highlight forward-looking AI technologies and illustrate how organizations can innovate by integrating AI into HRD interventions and systems
Critically explore the promises, challenges, concerns, and implications of AI integration in workplace learning and development

Ultimately, this special issue seeks to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue connecting research from Human Resource Development (HRD), organizational learning, educational technology, management, and other relevant fields.

Types of Contributions Welcome

The editors invite:

Empirical studies contributing evidence on AI-integrated workplace learning and development initiatives
Theoretical articles advancing frameworks explaining AI adoption, integration, and impact on formal and informal learning processes
Critical analyses of ethical and social implications of AI use in workplace learning and development
Policy-oriented contributions offering insights to support organizations, HRD professionals, and policymakers in navigating AI-augmented learning ecosystems

List of Topic Areas

Manuscripts are invited on themes including, but not limited to:

Human-AI integration in workplace learning and development
AI-driven systems for personalization and adaptive learning
Expertise development in the AI-integrated workplace
Critical perspectives regarding the assumptions underlying AI-driven workplace learning and development
Equity, ethics, and inclusivity in AI-driven learning environments
Perceptions of employees and HRD professionals regarding AI-driven changes in learning and development
Cross-sector and cross-cultural comparisons of human-AI integration in professional development
Individual use of AI tools for self-directed learning and career development in the workplace
Organizational strategies for embedding AI into structured learning and development systems
Theoretical frameworks for AI adoption and integration in HRD
Expanding empirical evidence on AI-integrated workplace learning initiatives
AI and organizational learning in the context of continuous change

Guest Editors

Dr. Eunjung Grace Oh University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA 📧 egraceoh@illinois.edu

Dr. Caleb Seung-hyun Han University of Georgia, USA 📧 calebhan@uga.edu

Dr. Sung "Pil" Kang University of New Mexico, USA 📧 pilkang@unm.edu

Key Deadlines

📅 Manuscript Submission Opens: 1 March 2026

Manuscript Submission Deadline: 1 June 2026

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are made through ScholarOne Manuscripts, the official submission platform of Emerald Publishing. Authors must strictly follow the journal's author guidelines.

When submitting, select "Transforming Workplace Learning and Development Through Artificial Intelligence" from the special issue drop-down menu at the appropriate step in the submission process.

⚠️ Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication elsewhere while under review for this journal.

For author guidelines and to submit your manuscript, visit the official journal page on the Emerald Publishing website and access via ScholarOne Manuscripts.

About the Journal

The Journal of Workplace Learning, published by Emerald Publishing, is a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing research and practice in workplace learning, human resource development, and organizational learning. It serves as a global platform for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers exploring how learning processes shape individual and organizational performance.

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