Transformative Approaches to Sustainable Education: Technology, Leadership and SDGs in Higher Education Institutions

Abdulrahman A Alhazemi

Abstract


The present study examines the relationship between the adoption of technology, the implementation of sustainable leadership practices, guided by Transformational Leadership Theory, and the attainment and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at academic institutions in Saudi Arabia. The study used a questionnaire-based technique from students, alumni and professors. The population consists of students, alumni and professors from these institutions, with a sample size of 383 participants. The research approach employed in this study is Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), a robust statistical technique. PLS-SEM enables simultaneous analysis of multiple variables, making it ideal for exploring complex relationships in the data. The results highlight the favorable influence of incorporating technology and implementing sustainable leadership practices on achieving SDGs. The study emphasizes its significant contributions to objectives, including clean energy, responsible consumption and reduced inequalities. The research also highlights the importance of involving stakeholders and implementing strategies that promote environmental sustainability practices in higher academic institutions. The study indicates that educational institutions, policymakers and stakeholders should take note of the practical consequences. It emphasizes the significance of making strategic technological investments, fostering sustainable leadership and spreading awareness to advance sustainability activities. The findings enhance our comprehension of the intricate relationships associated with attaining SDGs, underscoring the necessity of adopting a comprehensive strategy that encompasses leadership, technology, culture and stakeholder involvement.

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.5.3


Keywords


Technology Adoption; Sustainable Leadership; Sustainable Development Goals; Sustainability Awareness; Academic Institutions

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abdelhakim, M., Abdeldayem, M. M., & Aldulaimi, S. H. (2022). Information technology adoption barriers in public sector. 2022 ASU International Conference in Emerging Technologies for Sustainability and Intelligent Systems, ICETSIS 2022. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICETSIS55481.2022.9888805

Abidi, S., & Faisal AU Khan, S. M. (2018). Factors effecting performance of women entrepreneurship: An empirical study in Saudi Arabia. Review of Professional Management- A Journal of New Delhi Institute of Management, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.20968/rpm/2018/v16/i1/129256

Akudugu, M. A., & Ogwu, M. C. (2024). Sustainable development policies and interventions: A bibliometric analysis of the contributions of the academic community. Journal of Cleaner Production, 434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139919

Alharthi, S., Alharthi, A., & Alharthi, M. (2019). Sustainable development goals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 238. https://doi.org/10.2495/SC190401

Allwood, C. M. (2012). The distinction between qualitative and quantitative research methods is problematic. Quality and Quantity, 46(5). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-011-9455-8

Alsaati, T., El-Nakla, S., & El-Nakla, D. (2020). Level of sustainability awareness among university students in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12083159

AlShamsi, A., & Quirke, P. (2023). Stakeholders’ perspectives of early childhood education language and literacy laboratories in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(7). https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.7.6

Alshuaibi, A. (2017). Technology as an Important role in the implementation of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. International Journal of Business, 7(2).

Amato, V. (2021). The Sustainable development goals: A framework for business. In Management for Professionals: Vol. Part F445. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56344-8_2

Ashraf Alwy Balabel, & Hamad Raja Almujibah. (2022). Towards sustainable transportation: The development of hyperloop technology in Saudi Arabia. World Journal of Engineering and Technology Research, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.53346/wjetr.2022.2.1.0032

Avendano, R., Jütting, J., & Kuhm, M. (2020). Counting the invisible: The challenges and opportunities of the SDG indicator framework for statistical capacity development. In The Palgrave Handbook of Development Cooperation for Achieving the 2030 Agenda: Contested Collaboration. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57938-8_15

Balwant, P. T., Mohammed, R., & Singh, R. (2020). Transformational leadership and employee engagement in Trinidad’s service sector: The role of job resources. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-01-2019-0026

Bamaga, A., Terzis, S., & Zafar, B. (2024). Quality factors impacting e-learning within the mobile environment in Saudi Arabia universities: An interview study. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 8(1), 269–288. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2023.9.025

Banerjee, A., Murphy, E., & Walsh, P. P. (2020). Perceptions of multistakeholder partnerships for the sustainable development goals: A case study of Irish non-state actors. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218872

Barroso, C., Carrión, G. C., & Roldán, J. L. (2010). Applying maximum likelihood and PLS on different sample sizes: Studies on SERVQUAL model and employee behavior model. In Handbook of Partial Least Squares. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-32827-8_20

Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership and performance beyond expectations. Free Press.

Bennich, T., Weitz, N., & Carlsen, H. (2020). Deciphering the scientific literature on SDG interactions: A review and reading guide. In Science of the Total Environment (Vol. 728). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138405

Benzidia, S., Makaoui, N., & Bentahar, O. (2021). The impact of big data analytics and artificial intelligence on green supply chain process integration and hospital environmental performance. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120557

Berawi, M. A. (2016). Accelerating sustainable infrastructure development: Assuring well-being and ensuring environmental sustainability. International Journal of Technology, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.14716/ijtech.v7i4.3829

Cayabas, J. P., Codod, C. L. C., Sumeg-Ang, D. A., & Lacaben, E. P. (2023). Contributions and partnership strategies of external stakeholders in the implementation of the alternative learning system in Bontoc District: Insights from teachers. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(7). https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.7.24

Chaiyasit, W., Chomsuwan, K., & Chanchalor, S. (2023). Hybrid Teaching using problem-based learning to promote self-directed learning abilities of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(8). https://doi.org/10.26803/IJLTER.22.8.1

Chumnumporn, K., Jeenanunta, C., Simpan, S., Srivat, K., & Sanprasert, V. (2022). The role of a leader and the effect of a customer’s smart factory investment on a firm’s Industry 4.0 technology adoption in Thailand. International Journal of Technology, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.14716/ijtech.v13i1.4814

Douven, I. (2018). A Bayesian perspective on Likert scales and central tendency. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 25(3). https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-017-1344-2

El-Haddadeh, R., Osmani, M., Hindi, N., & Fadlalla, A. (2021). Value creation for realising the sustainable development goals: Fostering organisational adoption of big data analytics. Journal of Business Research, 131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.10.066

Erin, O. A., Bamigboye, O. A., & Oyewo, B. (2022). Sustainable development goals (SDG) reporting: an analysis of disclosure. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-02-2020-0037

Ermawati, A. (2018). Discriminant validity, convergent validity, composite realiability. Jurnal Agora, 6(2).

Fazlagi?, J., & Skikiewicz, R. (2019). Measuring sustainable development - the creative economy perspective. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 26(7). https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2019.1651418

Gerard, L., McMillan, J., & D’Annunzio-Green, N. (2017). Conceptualising sustainable leadership. Industrial and Commercial Training, 49(3). https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-12-2016-0079

González-Campo, C. H., Ico-Brath, D., & Murillo-Vargas, G. (2022). Integrating sustainable development goals (SDG) for the fulfilment of the 2030 agenda in Colombian public universities. Formacion Universitaria, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50062022000200053

Gonzalez-Torres, P., Cabrera-Solano, P., & Castillo-Cuesta, L. (2023). Stakeholders’ perceptions of teaching and technological skills in EFL vocabulary instruction: Implications for remote learning. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(7). https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.7.10

Hair, J. F. (2023). SmartPLS. https://www.smartpls.com/

Hair, J. F., Howard, M. C., & Nitzl, C. (2020). Assessing measurement model quality in PLS-SEM using confirmatory composite analysis. Journal of Business Research, 109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.11.069

Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. In European Business Review (Vol. 31, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203

Hajikhani, A., & Suominen, A. (2022). Mapping the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in science, technology and innovation: application of machine learning in SDG-oriented artefact detection. Scientometrics, 127(11). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-022-04358-x

Hakami, T. A., Al-Shargabi, B., Sabri, O., & Khan, S. M. F. A. (2023). Impact of blackboard technology acceptance on students learning in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Educators Online, 20(3). https://doi.org/10.9743/JEO.2023.20.3.13

Ibrahim, M. Y., Muis, M. A., Bakar, M. H., Zainal, M. A., Hashim, M. J., & Jusoh, M. H. (2024). Factors on political involvement among university students in Malaysia. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 6(5). https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2024060

Islam, M. M., Murad, M. W., McMurray, A. J., & Abalala, T. S. (2017). Aspects of sustainable procurement practices by public and private organisations in Saudi Arabia: an empirical study. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 24(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2016.1209794

Islam, Q., & Ali Khan, S. M. (2024a). Assessing consumer behavior in sustainable product markets: A structural equation modeling approach with partial least squares analysis. In Sustainability (Vol. 16, Issue 8). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083400

Islam, Q., & Ali Khan, S. M. F. (2024b). Sustainability-infused learning environments: Investigating the role of digital technology and motivation for sustainability in achieving quality education. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.1.25

Islam, Q., & Faisal Ali Khan, S. M. (2023). Integrating IT and sustainability in higher education infrastructure: Impacts on quality, innovation and research. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(12), 210–236. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.12.11

Kearns, A. (2011). Climate adaptation engineering: A new direction for environmental science, engineering and technology in urban environments. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2011.574740

Khan, M., & Chawla, C. (2015). Impact of Age on purchase decision from organized & unorganized retail stores – A research report in Indian Context. IRACST – International Journal of Commerce, Business and Management, 4(2).

Khan, S. M. F. A., & Damanhouri, A. M. S. (2017). Store patronage and buying behavior of consumer - A case study of organized retail stores of Jazan. International Journal of Applied Business and Economic Research, 15(16).

Krishnamurthy, R., & Sahay, G. (2023). Higher education for sustainable development goals: Bridging the global north and south. In Higher Education for the Sustainable Development Goals: Bridging the Global North and South (pp. 57–75). https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-525-020231004

Lateef, K. F. (2023). How to Start Data Analysis using SMART-PLS - ResearchWithFawad. Join the ResearchWithFawad Social Media Platforms. https://researchwithfawad.com/index.php/lp-courses/basic-and-advance-data-analysis-using-smart-pls/how-to-start-data-analysis-using-smart-pls/

Leguina, A. (2015). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 38(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727x.2015.1005806

Leiva-Brondo, M., Lajara-Camilleri, N., Vidal-Meló, A., Atarés, A., & Lull, C. (2022). Spanish university students’ awareness and perception of sustainable development goals and sustainability literacy. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084552

Liu, J., Zheng, X., Tong, Q., Li, W., Wang, B., Sutter, K., Trilling, M., Lu, M., Dittmer, U., & Yang, D. (2020). Overlapping and discrete aspects of the pathology and pathogenesis of the emerging human pathogenic coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and 2019-nCoV. In Journal of Medical Virology (Vol. 92, Issue 5). https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25709

Medabesh, A., & Khan, S. M. F. A. (2020). Sustainability management among enterprises in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118100509.ch@

Mishra, P., Pandey, C. M., Singh, U., Gupta, A., Sahu, C., & Keshri, A. (2019). Descriptive statistics and normality tests for statistical data. Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.4103/aca.ACA_157_18

Mulyani, S. (2024). The effect of environmentally oriented leadership and public sector management quality on supply chain performance: The moderating role of public sector environmental policy. Uncertain Supply Chain Management, 12(1), 471–480. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.uscm.2023.9.005

Muralidharan, E., & Pathak, S. (2018). Sustainability, transformational leadership, and social entrepreneurship. Sustainability (Switzerland), 10(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/su10020567

Najjar, M., Alsurakji, I. H., El-Qanni, A., & Nour, A. I. (2023). The role of blockchain technology in the integration of sustainability practices across multi-tier supply networks: implications and potential complexities. Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2022.2030663

Nathaniel, S. P., Solomon, C. J., Ajide, K. B., Ahmed, Z., & Fakher, H. A. (2023). Striving towards carbon neutrality in emerging markets: the combined influence of international tourism and eco-friendly technology. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 30(7). https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2023.2195831

O’Shea, A., Boaz, A., Hanney, S., Kok, M., Borst, R., Pokhrel, S., & Jones, T. (2021). Expect the unexpected? Challenges of prospectively exploring stakeholder engagement in research. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00770-5

Philips, Z., Claxton, K., & Palmer, S. (2008). The half-life of truth: What are appropriate time horizons for research decisions? In Medical Decision Making (Vol. 28, Issue 3). https://doi.org/10.1177/0272989X07312724

Piwowar-Sulej, K., & Iqbal, Q. (2023). Leadership styles and sustainable performance: A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134600

Purbiyantari, W., Zauhar, S., Suryadi, Hermawan, R., & Riyadi, B. S. (2023). Transformational leadership, technology adoption, and public service towards job competency. International Journal of Membrane Science and Technology, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.15379/ijmst.v10i2.1389

Quinonez-Beltran, A., Cabrera-Solano, P., & Castillo-Cuesta, L. (2023). Implementing active reading strategies in virtual settings: High school students' experience during remote learning. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(8). https://doi.org/10.26803/IJLTER.22.8.10

Rada, V. D. de. (2019). Influence of the questionnaire design in self-administered surveys. Sociology International Journal, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.15406/sij.2019.03.00163

Sand, A. (2022). Inferential statistics is an unfit tool for interpreting data. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 12(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157691

Saratun, M. (2016). Performance management to enhance employee engagement for corporate sustainability. In Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration (Vol. 8, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1108/APJBA-07-2015-0064

Sathorar, H., Geduld, D., Moeng, M., Mapasa, T., & Oosthuizen, H. (2023). Leading for Sustainability and empowerment: Reflecting on the power of collaboration and humanising pedagogy. Educational Research for Social Change, 12(2), 78–95. https://doi.org/10.17159/2221-4070/2023/v12i2a6

Schwindenhammer, S., & Gonglach, D. (2021). SDG implementation through technology? Governing food-water-technology nexus challenges in urban agriculture. Politics and Governance, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.v9i1.3590

Shehawy, Y. M., & Ali Khan, S. M. F. (2024). Consumer readiness for green consumption: The role of green awareness as a moderator of the relationship between green attitudes and purchase intentions. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 78, 103739. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2024.103739

Shishakly, R., Almaiah, M. A., Lutfi, A., & Alrawad, M. (2024). The influence of using smart technologies for sustainable development in higher education institutions. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 8(1), 77–90. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2023.10.015

Shobande, O. A., & Ogbeifun, L. (2022). Has information and communication technology improved environmental quality in the OECD? —a dynamic panel analysis. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2021.1909172

Shuib, L., Yadegaridehkordi, E., & Ainin, S. (2019). Malaysian urban poor adoption of e-government applications and their satisfaction. Cogent Social Sciences, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2019.1565293

Siangchokyoo, N., Klinger, R. L., & Campion, E. D. (2020). Follower transformation as the linchpin of transformational leadership theory: A systematic review and future research agenda. Leadership Quarterly, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2019.101341

Solano-Olivares, K., Santoyo, E., & Santoyo-Castelazo, E. (2024). Integrated sustainability assessment framework for geothermal energy technologies: A literature review and a new proposal of sustainability indicators for Mexico. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.114231

Suhluli, S. A., & Ali Khan, S. M. F. (2022). Determinants of user acceptance of wearable IoT devices. Cogent Engineering, 9(1), 2087456. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2022.2087456

Tang, Y., Chen, Y. J., Shao, Y. F., & Cao, Q. (2022). The impact of sustainable transformational leadership on sustainable innovation ambidexterity: Empirical evidence from green building industries of China. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.814690

United Nations Organization. (2015). The 17 goals. Retrieved September 29, 2023, from https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Vargas-Merino, J. A., Rios-Lama, C. A., & Panez-Bendezú, M. H. (2024). Critical implications of education for sustainable development in HEIs - A systematic review through the lens of the business science literature. International Journal of Management Education, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2023.100904

Zangirolami-Raimundo, J., Echeimberg, J. de O., & Leone, C. (2018). Research methodology topics: Cross-sectional studies. Journal of Human Growth and Development, 28(3). https://doi.org/10.7322/jhgd.152198

Zekaj, R. (2023). AI language models as educational allies: Enhancing instructional support in higher education. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(8). https://doi.org/10.26803/IJLTER.22.8.7

Zhou, G., Liu, L., & Luo, S. (2022). Sustainable development, ESG performance and company market value: Mediating effect of financial performance. Business Strategy and the Environment, 31(7). https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3089


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493