Distributed Leadership and Transformational Leadership in Higher Education: Global Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
Abstract
The study focuses on the role of Transformational Leadership (TL) practices and Distributive Leadership (DL) practices on Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). The objectives of the study are to understand the global trends, challenges associated with the leadership practices and opportunities for TL and DL practices in HEIs. A Systematic Literature Review has been conducted after inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis of 16 sources has helped in understanding the importance of Vision-centric leadership practices for academic institutions so that the leaders are aware of the changes that can be adopted for higher educational standards. However, changing dynamics and ambiguity can create issues in leadership practices. TL and DL practices offer various opportunities in the form of innovation, sustainability, collaborative working and organisational commitment through knowledge sharing in HEIs. This study suggests that university leaders and policymakers should adopt an integrated leadership approach that combines visionary transformation with collaborative governance to enhance institutional performance and adaptability.
Downloads
References
Al-Husseini, S., El Beltagi, I., & Moizer, J. (2021). Transformational leadership and innovation: the mediating role of knowledge sharing amongst higher education faculty. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 24(5), 670-693. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2019.1588381
Antonopoulou, H., Halkiopoulos, C., Barlou, O., & Beligiannis, G. N. (2021). Transformational leadership and digital skills in higher education institutes: during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging science journal, 5(1), 1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.28991/esj-2021-01252
Baba, M. M., Makhdoomi, U. M., & Siddiqi, M. A. (2021). Emotional intelligence and transformational leadership among academic leaders in institutions of higher learning. Global Business Review, 22(4), 1070-1096. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972150918822421
Baty, P. (2025). World University Rankings 2026: Is the geopolitics of knowledge and innovation shifting?. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/10/world-university-rankings-knowledge-creation-innovation/
Brown, M., Brown, R. S., & Nandedkar, A. (2019). Transformational leadership theory and exploring the perceptions of diversity management in higher education. Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice, 19(7), 11-21. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Roger-Brown-9/publication/351330565_Transformational_Leadership_Theory_and_Exploring_the_Perceptions_of_Diversity_Management_in_Higher_Education/links/67351cd34a70511f071df1c6/Transformational-Leadership-Theory-and-Exploring-the-Perceptions-of-Diversity-Management-in-Higher-Education.pdf
Chi, H., Vu, T. V., Nguyen, H. V., & Truong, T. H. (2023). How financial and non–financial rewards moderate the relationships between transformational leadership, job satisfaction, and job performance. Cogent Business & Management, 10(1), 2173850. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2173850
Dumulescu, D., & Muţiu, A. I. (2021). Academic leadership in the time of COVID-19—Experiences and perspectives. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 648344. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.648344
Etomes, S. E., Endeley, M. N., Aluko, F. R., & Molua, E. L. (2025). Transformational leadership for sustainable productivity in higher education institutions of Cameroon. Higher Education, 90(2), 521-543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-024-01334-7
Eustachio, J. H. P. P., Leal Filho, W., Salvia, A. L., Guimaraes, Y. M., Brandli, L. L., Trevisan, L. V., ... & Caldana, A. C. F. (2024). Implementing sustainability in teaching: The role of sustainability leadership and transformational leadership in the context of higher education institutions. Sustainable Development, 32(5), 5331-5347. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2980
Harris, A., Jones, M., & Ismail, N. (2022). Distributed leadership: taking a retrospective and contemporary view of the evidence base. School Leadership & Management, 42(5), 438-456. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2022.2109620
Howell, J. L., Bullington, K. E., Gregory, D. E., Williams, M. R., & Nuckols, W. L. (2022). Transformational leadership in higher education programs. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership Studies, 3(1), 51-66. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1095&context=efl_fac_pubs
Khaola, P., & Rambe, P. (2021). The effects of transformational leadership on organisational citizenship behaviour: the role of organisational justice and affective commitment. Management Research Review, 44(3), 381-398. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-07-2019-0323
Lizier, A., Brooks, F., & Bizo, L. (2024). Importance of clarity, hierarchy, and trust in implementing distributed leadership in higher education. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 52(4), 901-915. https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432221105154
MARTINEZ, E. L. (2024). Transformational Leadership in Higher Education Institutions: Best Practices Framework. International Journal Of Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies, 4(4), 428-464. https://www.ijams-bbp.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/4-IJAMS-APRIL-2024-332-368.pdf
Meng, H. (2022). Analysis of the relationship between transformational leadership and educational management in higher education based on deep learning. Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience, 2022(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5287922
Mishra, A. K., & Upadhyay, R. K. (2022). Transformational leadership and organizational commitment: A higher educational institutions perspective. Vision, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/09722629221096056
Mohammed, A.A. and AL-Abrrow, H., 2023. The impact of empowering and transformational leadership on organizational performance and innovation: the mediating role of shared leadership and moderating role of organizational culture in the Iraqi healthcare sector. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 31(7), pp.3532-3552. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-08-2022-3380
Mohsenibeigzadeh, M., Tashakkori, A., Kazemi, B., Moghaddam, P. K., & Ahmadirad, Z. (2024). Driving innovation in education: the role of transformational leadership and knowledge sharing strategies. Current Opinion, 4(2), 505-515. https://doi.org/10.52845/currentopinion.v4i2.291
Murgatroyd, S. (2025). The Challenge of Leadership in Higher Education in An Age of Disruption. Journal of Ethics in Higher Education, (6.1), 163-181. https://doi.org/10.26034/fr.jehe.2025.8348
Nguyen, N. P., Hang, N. T. T., Hiep, N., & Flynn, O. (2023). Does transformational leadership influence organisational culture and organisational performance: Empirical evidence from an emerging country. IIMB Management Review, 35(4), 382-392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iimb.2023.10.001
O'Shea, C. (2021). Distributed leadership and innovative teaching practices. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 2, 100088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2021.100088
Prabha, D. & Sumathi, S. (2023). Improving leadership in Higher Education institutions: a distributed perspective. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), 10(10), 1564-1571. https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2310468.pdf
Ramakrishnan, S., & Abukari, A. (2020). Distributed leadership in higher education: an analysis of heads of departments’ leadership practice in the UAE. Journal for Researching Education Practice and Theory (JREPT), 3(1), 52-83. https://www.academia.edu/67141675/Distributed_leadership_in_higher_education_an_analysis_of_heads_of_departments_leadership_practice_in_the_UAE
Rojak, J. A. (2024). The relationship of transformational leadership and organizational commitment in higher education. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 3(1), 14-20. https://inti.ejournalmeta.com/index.php/inti/article/view/37
Sachar, S. (2025). Exploring distributed leadership models in education. Research Invention Journal of Current Issues in Arts and Management, 4(1), 23-26. https://doi.org/10.59298/RIJCIAM/2025/412326
Schleicher, A. (n.d.). Global trends in higher education. OECD. https://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Andreas-Schleicher-HEPI-slides.pdf
Shah, S., & Matsimbe, E. (2025). Impact of Distributed Leadership on Project Outcomes within Organisations. WSEAS Transactions on Business and Economics, 22, 395-416. https://doi.org/10.37394/23207.2025.22.38
Sutrisno, S., Astuti, E. D., Safitri, K., Setrojoyo, S. M., & Wibowo, T. S. (2023). Effect of Transformational Leadership, Job Satisfaction, and Interpersonal Communication on Organizational Citizenship Behavior with Organizational Commitment as Mediation Variable at the Tax Office. International Journal of Professional Business Review: Int. J. Prof. Bus. Rev., 8(7), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i7.2634
