Integrating sustainable leadership in Malaysian higher education: Effective strategies for implementation and impact

Menaga Vesudevan; Zuraidah Abdullah; Asokan  Vasudevan; Peng Qin

doi:10.31893/multirev.2025115

Keywords:

Abstract

This study aims to investigate sustainable leadership practices within higher education institutions, emphasizing capacity building, diversity, conservation, strategic distribution, building objectives, and innovation. The objective is to examine the theoretical frameworks and practical applications of these practices, highlighting a shift toward more adaptive strategies. The research employs a quantitative methodology, utilizing a convenience sample from a public higher education institution in Malaysia. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability test indicates good internal consistency and significance. The correlation coefficient, represented by an R value of 0.273, suggests a moderately strong positive correlation between the dependent variable and the predictors. The results reveal the importance of incorporating sustainable leadership practices into institutional culture and decision-making processes to ensure long-term success and competitive advantage. The study concludes by emphasizing the gradual process of implementing sustainable leadership practices and the necessity for organizations to prioritize their adoption for sustained effectiveness and impact. The practical implications of this research are significant, as they provide a roadmap for institutions to integrate sustainable leadership practices into their operations, thereby enhancing their long-term success and competitive advantage.
References
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How to cite

Vesudevan, M., Abdullah , Z., Vasudevan, A., & Peng Qin. (2024). Integrating sustainable leadership in Malaysian higher education: Effective strategies for implementation and impact. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(4), 2025115. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2025115

[1] Al-Zawahreh, A.Khasawneh, S. & Al-Jaradat, M. (2019). Green Management Practices In Higher Education: The Status Of Sustainable Leadership. Tertiary Education and Management, 25(1), 53-63. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11233-018-09014-9

[2] Aleixo, A. M.Leal, S. & Azeiteiro, U. M. (2018). Conceptualization of sustainable higher education institutions, roles, barriers, and challenges for sustainability: An exploratory study in portugal. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172, 1664-1673. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.010

[3] Alghamdi, N.Den Heijer, A. & De Jonge, H. (2017). Assessment tools’ indicators for sustainability in universities: An analytical overview. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 18 (1). doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-04-2015-0071

[4] Ali, H. M.Ayodele, L. A. & Ibrahim, M. B. (2019). The Future Sustainability Of Malaysian Higher Education Institutions: What Matters Most? Asian Academy of Management Journal, 24, 171-186. doi: https://doi.org/10.21315/aamj2019.24.s1.12

[5] Aung, P. N. & Hallinger, P. (2022). Research on Sustainability Leadership in Higher Education: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 24 (3). doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-09-2021-0367

[6] Avery, G. C. & Bergsteiner, H. (2011 a,b ). Sustainable leadership practices for enhancing business resilience and performance. Strategy & Leadership, 39 (3), 5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/10878571111128766Beram,

[7] Awang, M.Ismail, R.Ramalu, R. R.Noor, N.Yoong, S. M., Samichan, A. (2023). Professional leadership competencies for malaysian educational middle leaders. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 31(4). doi: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.31.4.02

[8] Bhattacharyya, E. (2019). Leadership Competencies And Leadership Style In Aspiring Cluster Schools of Excellence. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humatinies, 27(2), 1111-1129.

[9] Dalati, S. (2017). Relationship between sustainable leadership and organizational trust: Empirical evidence from private higher education institutions in syria. Paper presented at the Modernizing Academic Teaching and Research in Business and Economics: International Conference MATRE 2016, Beirut, Lebanon.

[10] Dalati, S.Raudeliūnienė, J. & Davidavičienė, V. (2017). Sustainable leadership, organizational trust on job satisfaction: Empirical evidence from higher education institutions in syria. Business, Management and Economics Engineering, 15(1), 14-27. doi: 10.21272/mmi.2020.4-20

[11] Davies, B. (2007). Developing sustainable leadership. Management in education, 21(3), 4-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSSM.2010.032561

[12] Ferdig, M. A. (2007). Sustainability leadership: co-creating a sustainable future. Journal of Change Management, 7(1), 25-35. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14697010701233809

[13] Gjerde, S. & Ladegård, G. (2019). Leader Role Crafting And The Functions Of Leader Role Identities. Journal of leadership & organizational studies, 26(1), 44-59. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051818774553

[14] Hallinger, P. & Suriyankietkaew, S. (2018). Science mapping of the knowledge base on sustainable leadership, 1990–2018. Sustainability, 10(12), 4846. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124846

[15] Hargreaves, A. & Fink, D. (2004). The Seven Principles of Sustainable Leadership. Educational leadership, 61(7), 8-13

[16] Hategan, V.-P. & Hategan, C.-D. (2021). Sustainable leadership: philosophical and practical approach in organizations. Sustainability, 13(14), 7918. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147918

[17] Iqbal, Q. & Ahmad, N. H. (2021). Sustainable development: The colors of sustainable leadership in learning organization. Sustainable Development, 29(1), 108-119. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2135

[18] Iqbal, Q.Ahmad, N. H. & Halim, H. A. (2020). How does sustainable leadership influence sustainable performance? empirical evidence from selected asean countries. Sage Open, 10(4), 2158244020969394. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020969394

[19] Kantabutra, S. & Saratun, M. (2013). Sustainable leadership: Honeybee practices at thailand's oldest university. International Journal of educational management, 27(4), doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/09513541311316304

[20] Kolenick, P. (2017). Waiting for godot: leadership for sustainability in higher education and the emergence of regional centres of expertise (RCEs). Journal of Sustainability Education, 25(9) doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2024-0009

[21] Lambert, S. (2011). Sustainable leadership and the implication for the general further education college sector. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 35(1), 131-148. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2010.540319

[22] Lambert, S. (2020). The Implementation Of Sustainable Leadership In General Further Education Colleges.

[23] Leal Filho, W.Eustachio, J. H. P. P.Caldana, A. C. F.Will, M.Salvia, A. L.Rampasso, I. S., Kovaleva, M. (2020). Sustainability leadership in higher education institutions: an overview of challenges. Sustainability, 12(9), 1-21. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093761

[24] Lee, H.-W. (2017a). Sustainable Leadership: An Empirical Investigation Of Its Effect On Organizational Effectiveness1. International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior 20(4), pp. 419-453. . doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-20-04-2017-B001

[25] Lee, H.-W. (2017b). Sustainable leadership: an empirical investigation of its effect on organizational effectiveness1. International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior, 20 (4). doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-20-04-2017-B001

[26] Liao, Y. (2022). Sustainable leadership: a literature review and prospects for future research. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1045570

[27] Rehman, S.Sami, A.Haroon, A. & Irfan, A. (2019). Impact of sustainable leadership practices on public sector organizations: A systematic review of past decade. Journal of Public Value and Administrative Insight, 2(3), 1-5. doi: 10.31580/jpvai.v2i3.927

[28] Reza, M. I. H. (2016). Sustainability in higher education: Perspectives of malaysian higher education system. Sage Open, 6(3), 2158244016665890. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016665890

[29] Salihu, M. J.Nayel, M. & Rabiatul-Adawiah, A. (2020). Sustainable higher education leadership: A conceptual approach from the functionalist paradigm for higher institutions of learning. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews-(HSSR), 8(2), 8-12. doi: https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2020.822

[30] Savage, E.Tapics, T.Evarts, J.Wilson, J. & Tirone, S. (2015). Experiential learning for sustainability leadership in higher education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 16(5). doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2013-0132

[31] Segovia-Pérez, M.Laguna-Sánchez, P. & De La Fuente-Cabrero, C. (2019). Education for sustainable leadership: Fostering women’s empowerment at the university level. Sustainability, 11(20), 5555. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016665890

[32] Silalaiy, K.Ratanaolarn, T. & Thaveesuk, M. (2018). The sustainable leadership for vocational schools in thailand: A structural equation model. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 9(3), 79. doi: 10.2478/mjss-2018-0050

[33] Taşçı, G. & Titrek, O. (2019). Evaluation of Lifelong Learning Centers In Higher Education: A Sustainable Leadership Perspective. Sustainability, 12(1), 22. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010022

[34] Thakhathi, A.le Roux, C. & Davis, A. (2019). Sustainability leaders’ influencing strategies for institutionalising organisational change towards corporate sustainability: A strategy-as-practice perspective. Journal of Change Management, 19(4), 246-265. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14697017.2019.1578985

[35] Visser, W. & Courtice, P. (2011). Sustainability Leadership: Linking Theory And Practice. Available at SSRN 1947221, 22(2). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1947221

Abstract

References

How to cite