Green intellectual capital and green performance in Islamic higher education: the mediating role of green innovation

This study aims to explore the mediating role of Green Innovation on the relationship between Green Intellectual Capital and Green Performance in Islamic Higher Education. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire from leaders/strategic managers at Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah Universities (PTMA). The number of respondents in this study was 313. Green Human Capital does not directly impact Green Performance. In other words, the existence of individual environmental knowledge and competencies does not automatically translate into institutional environmental performance. Meanwhile, Green Innovation does not mediate the relationship between Green Relational Capital and Green Performance. This means that external relations in the context of Islamic higher education are more legitimacy-driven than innovation-driven. This research provides a policy roadmap for IHE leaders to develop GICs. Furthermore, this research can guide resource allocation toward a portfolio of green innovations that directly improve cost efficiency and reduce emissions. The originality of this research lies in its contextualization within IHE, an ecosystem with a mandate for scientific and moral outreach, distinct from general universities and business entities. Furthermore, the operationalization of GI mediation in a campus setting is not merely an intervening variable, but rather a measurable, dynamic capability.