Higher education institution president’s career background and its relation to sustainability performance of higher education institution

This study investigates the relationship between the career backgrounds of the presidents of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the HEIs’ performance, with a specific focus on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS). Using a quantitative approach, this study employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis to evaluate whether the presidents’ career experiences, particularly those from non-academic sectors, are associated with the HEI’s sustainability outcomes. Robustness checks, using Propensity Score Matching, are applied to strengthen the validity of the findings. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between the presidents’ non-academic career experiences and the institutions’ sustainability performance. The findings suggest that presidents of HEIs with backgrounds beyond academia bring valuable perspectives, skills, and networks that enhance the implementation of sustainability initiatives. Their experience in management, industry, or public service may contribute to strategic innovation, cross-sectoral collaboration, and effective sustainability governance. The findings offer important implications for the governing boards of the HEIs in selecting institutional leaders by emphasizing the advantages of appointing presidents with diverse professional experiences to advance the sustainability goals. This study contributes to the higher education leadership literature by highlighting the influence of executive career trajectories on organizational sustainability performance and by providing empirical evidence to inform strategic leadership development in higher education.