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 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.