The reality of green management in public and higher education institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This study aims to analyze the current state of green administration in Saudi educational institutions, identify the level of adoption of green practices in schools and universities, and explore the roles of school leaders, university leaders, and human resource units in promoting sustainability values. In addition, the study identifies significant challenges hindering the implementation of green administration in the Saudi educational environment. The study employed a systematic literature review of scientific studies published between 2016 and 2025, applying rigorous inclusion criteria. This process resulted in the selection of 12 peer-reviewed studies that examined green administration, green leadership, or related dimensions in Saudi schools and universities. The findings indicate that green administration in public schools is gradually progressing, supported by strong availability of human and material resources and an increasingly aware school leadership. However, the implementation of green human resource management practices remains moderate overall. In higher education institutions, Saudi universities demonstrate moderate to high adoption of green HRM practices, with apparent positive effects on environmental management and organizational performance. In contrast, some practices, particularly green incentives and green recruitment, remain relatively weaker and less effective in advancing sustainability outcome