Sustainable performance in public sector universities of Punjab: examining the moderating impact of digital leadership amid digital transformation and innovativeness

The need for sustainable performance at public universities is growing Due to fast-paced digitalization. This research investigates the role of digital transformation and digital innovativeness in sustainable performance as well as the moderating effect of digital leadership within these relationships in public universities in Punjab, Pakistan. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was adopted, and data were collected from 174 decision-making authorities (deans, directors, and heads of department) at ten public universities in Punjab using stratified sampling. Data analysis was conducted using SmartPLS, and structural equation modeling was adopted. The findings indicate that digital transformation, digital innovativeness, and digital leadership all exert a significant direct impact on sustainable performance. Particularly, digital leadership strongly moderates the effect of digital innovativeness on sustainable performance, enhancing its positive relationship. However, it did not have a significant moderating impact on the effect of digital transformation on sustainable performance. These results underscore the critical role of strategic digital projects, continuous innovation, and future-oriented digital leadership in driving sustainable results in higher education, particularly in the developing world, such as Pakistan. The research contributes theoretically by explaining the specific direct and moderating functions of digital leadership in shaping sustainable performance and provides applied knowledge for enhancing sustainability through specific digital strategies in higher education.