ARTICLE

Volume 10,Issue 8

All Issues
Submit to JCER
Cite this article
0
Views
2 April 2026
Smart Technologies as Tools for Developing Sustainable Leadership Competencies in the Education System: A Conceptual Model and Directions for Empirical Validation
Valeriia Tarasenko
Show Less
1 Independent Scholar, Shanghai, China,
JCER 2026 , 10(3), 177–185; https://doi.org/10.26689/jcer.v10i3.14351
Download PDF
Cite
XML
HTML
Abstract

Global environmental and socio-economic challenges have intensified the need to cultivate sustainable leadership competencies through educational systems. As education undergoes rapid digital transformation, smart technologies—such as artificial intelligence, adaptive platforms, data analytics, and immersive learning environments—are increasingly integrated into teaching and learning processes. However, their role in fostering sustainable leadership competencies remains insufficiently theorized. This study develops a conceptual model in which smart technology integration contributes to the development of sustainable leadership competencies through a sequential mediation pathway: systems thinking, environmental responsibility, and strategic decision-making. In addition, institutional orientation toward sustainable development is proposed as a moderating factor that strengthens the relationship between smart technology integration and systems thinking. The article advances the literature by bridging research on digital transformation, sustainability, and leadership development within a unified theoretical framework. It also provides a foundation for future empirical validation using structural equation modeling (SEM)/PLS-SEM and offers practical guidance for the design of sustainability-oriented educational programs.

References
Aung PN, Hallinger, P, 2023, Research on Sustainability Leadership in Higher Education: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 24(3): 517–534.
Nazaretsky T, Cukurova M, Alexandron G, 2022, An Instrument for Measuring Teachers’ Trust in AI-Based Educational Technology, Proceedings of the 12th International Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference (LAK ‘22), Association for Computing Machinery, 56–66.
George G, Merrill RK, Schillebeeckx SJD, 2021, Digital Sustainability and Entrepreneurship: How Digital Innovations Are Helping Tackle Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 45(5): 999–1027.
Zawacki-Richter O, Marín VI, Bond M, et al., 2019, Systematic Review of Research on Artificial Intelligence Applications in Higher Education – Where Are the Educators? International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16: 39.
Ouyang F, Jiao P, 2021, Artificial Intelligence in Education: The Three Paradigms. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 2: 100020.
Metcalf L, Benn S, 2013, Leadership for Sustainability: An Evolution of Leadership Ability. Journal of Business Ethics, 112(3): 369–384.
Holmes W, Bialik M, Fadel C, 2019, Artificial Intelligence in Education: Promises and Implications for Teaching and Learning. Center for Curriculum Redesign.
Khan SAR, Yu Z, Sharif A, et al., 2021, Determinants of Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: The Role of Sustainable Leadership and Green Innovation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 305.
Avery GC, Bergsteiner H, 2011, Sustainable Leadership Practices for Enhancing Business Resilience and Performance. Strategy & Leadership, 39(3): 5–15.
Kim MJ, Hall CM, 2021, Do Perceived Risk and Intervention Affect Crowdfunder Behavior for the Sustainable Development Goals? A Model of Goal-Directed Behavior. Journal of Cleaner Production, 311: 127614.
Iqbal Q, Ahmad NH, Nasim A, et al., 2020, A Moderated-Mediation Analysis of Psychological Empowerment: Sustainable Leadership and Sustainable Performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 262: 121429.
Seele P, Schultz MD, 2022, From Greenwashing to Machinewashing: A Model and Future Directions Derived from Reasoning by Analogy. Journal of Business Ethics, 178(4): 1063–1089.
Peretz R, 2025, Integrating Systems Thinking into Sustainability Education: An Overview with Educator-Focused Guidance. Education Sciences, 15(12): 1685.
Dolansky MA, Moore SM, Palmieri PA, et al., 2020, Development and Validation of the Systems Thinking Scale. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(8): 2314–2320.
Peretz R, Tal M, Akiri E, et al., 2023, Fostering Engineering and Science Students’ and Teachers’ Systems Thinking and Conceptual Modeling Skills. Instructional Science, 51(3): 509–543.
Weaver M, Fonseca AP, Tan H, et al., 2025, Systems Thinking for Sustainability: Shifting to a Higher Level of Systems Consciousness. Journal of the Operational Research Society. Advance Online Publication.
Yang J, Shi G, Zhu W, et al., 2025, Intelligent Technologies in Smart Education: A Comprehensive Review of Transformative Pillars and Their Impact on Teaching and Learning Methods. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12: 1239.
Hair JF, Alamer A, 2022, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in Second Language and Education Research: Guidelines Using an Applied Example. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 1: 100027.
Share
Back to top
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here
Accept