Sustainable leadership in higher education: a case study exploring the emergent strategies of four Vietnamese leaders’ strategies

This study explores how leaders in Vietnamese higher education institutions (HEIs) conceptualize and enact strategies to promote sustainable development, and what challenges they face in doing so. Set against the backdrop of global sustainability imperatives, it delves into the specific context of V...

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Main Authors: Hong Hieu Hua, Thanh Thao Le, Hoang Yen Phuong, Trut Thuy Pham
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2516076
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author Hong Hieu Hua
Thanh Thao Le
Hoang Yen Phuong
Trut Thuy Pham
author_facet Hong Hieu Hua
Thanh Thao Le
Hoang Yen Phuong
Trut Thuy Pham
author_sort Hong Hieu Hua
collection DOAJ
description This study explores how leaders in Vietnamese higher education institutions (HEIs) conceptualize and enact strategies to promote sustainable development, and what challenges they face in doing so. Set against the backdrop of global sustainability imperatives, it delves into the specific context of Vietnam, a nation experiencing rapid socio-economic transformation. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study involved semi-structured interviews with four educational leaders from two distinct Vietnamese HEIs. Key themes identified include a shift towards collaborative leadership, the incorporation of sustainability into academic curricula and research, navigating resource constraints, fostering a sustainability-focused institutional culture, and balancing global sustainability trends with local realities. These themes underscore a transition to participatory leadership styles, systematic integration of sustainability in education, strategic management of resources, and the adaptation of global sustainability models to local contexts. The study highlights the importance of enhancing collaborative leadership skills, developing sustainability-centric curricula, exploring innovative sustainability funding mechanisms, and embedding sustainability values within institutional cultures. This research enriches the discourse on sustainable development in higher education, offering insights pertinent to the evolving landscape of higher education in developing nations like Vietnam.
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series Cogent Social Sciences
spelling doaj-art-8fecf9527b9449b58e3badd0c4feccc12025-08-20T03:24:57ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862025-12-0111110.1080/23311886.2025.2516076Sustainable leadership in higher education: a case study exploring the emergent strategies of four Vietnamese leaders’ strategiesHong Hieu Hua0Thanh Thao Le1Hoang Yen Phuong2Trut Thuy Pham3Can Tho University, Can Tho, VietnamCan Tho University, Can Tho, VietnamCan Tho University, Can Tho, VietnamNam Can Tho University, Can Tho, VietnamThis study explores how leaders in Vietnamese higher education institutions (HEIs) conceptualize and enact strategies to promote sustainable development, and what challenges they face in doing so. Set against the backdrop of global sustainability imperatives, it delves into the specific context of Vietnam, a nation experiencing rapid socio-economic transformation. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study involved semi-structured interviews with four educational leaders from two distinct Vietnamese HEIs. Key themes identified include a shift towards collaborative leadership, the incorporation of sustainability into academic curricula and research, navigating resource constraints, fostering a sustainability-focused institutional culture, and balancing global sustainability trends with local realities. These themes underscore a transition to participatory leadership styles, systematic integration of sustainability in education, strategic management of resources, and the adaptation of global sustainability models to local contexts. The study highlights the importance of enhancing collaborative leadership skills, developing sustainability-centric curricula, exploring innovative sustainability funding mechanisms, and embedding sustainability values within institutional cultures. This research enriches the discourse on sustainable development in higher education, offering insights pertinent to the evolving landscape of higher education in developing nations like Vietnam.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2516076Challengeshigher educationstrategiessustainable developmentsustainable leadershipCultural Studies
spellingShingle Hong Hieu Hua
Thanh Thao Le
Hoang Yen Phuong
Trut Thuy Pham
Sustainable leadership in higher education: a case study exploring the emergent strategies of four Vietnamese leaders’ strategies
Cogent Social Sciences
Challenges
higher education
strategies
sustainable development
sustainable leadership
Cultural Studies
title Sustainable leadership in higher education: a case study exploring the emergent strategies of four Vietnamese leaders’ strategies
title_full Sustainable leadership in higher education: a case study exploring the emergent strategies of four Vietnamese leaders’ strategies
title_fullStr Sustainable leadership in higher education: a case study exploring the emergent strategies of four Vietnamese leaders’ strategies
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable leadership in higher education: a case study exploring the emergent strategies of four Vietnamese leaders’ strategies
title_short Sustainable leadership in higher education: a case study exploring the emergent strategies of four Vietnamese leaders’ strategies
title_sort sustainable leadership in higher education a case study exploring the emergent strategies of four vietnamese leaders strategies
topic Challenges
higher education
strategies
sustainable development
sustainable leadership
Cultural Studies
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2516076
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AT thanhthaole sustainableleadershipinhighereducationacasestudyexploringtheemergentstrategiesoffourvietnameseleadersstrategies
AT hoangyenphuong sustainableleadershipinhighereducationacasestudyexploringtheemergentstrategiesoffourvietnameseleadersstrategies
AT trutthuypham sustainableleadershipinhighereducationacasestudyexploringtheemergentstrategiesoffourvietnameseleadersstrategies