Strengthening educational responsibility effect on innovative lecturer: the mediating role of educational leadership

Purpose Like other higher education institutions, private Islamic higher educational institutions in Indonesia require lecturers who have educational responsibility to work innovatively. Even though it plays a critical role, empirical evidence regarding the influence of educational responsibility on innovative lecturers remains inconclusive. This study aims to strengthen the influence through educational leadership by extending moral leadership theory (MLT). Design/methodology/approach Two hundred and fifty-three lecturers teaching at private Islamic higher education institutions have been taken as respondents using the purposive sampling method. The data processed with SPSS and SEM with Amos is taken using the questionnaire in the form of Google Form link sent to the respondents through the assistance of rectors or chairpersons of the universities or institutes and colleges proposed via 15 regional coordinators coordinating Indonesian private Islamic higher educational institutions in their respective regions. Findings The findings show that educational leadership is the mediator strengthening the effect of educational responsibility on innovative lecturer. In addition, educational responsibility and leadership respectively have a positive and significant effect on innovative lecturer. Meanwhile, educational responsibility cultivates educational leadership. Originality/value The findings contribute to explaining that extending MLT can show the crucial role of educational leadership as a mechanism through which educational responsibility cultivates innovative activities among lecturers.