Leadership and Management in Higher Education: New Directions and Global Trends

Dear Colleagues,

Leadership and management in higher education have never been more consequential. The accelerating pace of change challenges longstanding assumptions about how universities should operate, make decisions and fulfill their academic, social and economic roles. While institutions are tasked with preserving scholarly excellence and promoting critical inquiry, they must also respond to new demands for accountability, digital integration, global engagement and inclusive governance.

Despite the abundance of research on organizational leadership, there remains a pressing need for scholarship that speaks directly to the contemporary context of higher education. Both traditional leadership models and new perspectives are needed to understand the complex and interdependent challenges faced by modern universities—from financial pressures and regulatory expectations to the opportunities and disruptions generated by artificial intelligence, international mobility and shifting student demographics.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives that advance theoretical understanding, offer empirical insight and contribute practical guidance for higher education leaders. By highlighting innovative approaches, documenting emergent practices and critically examining prevailing assumptions, the issue seeks to support institutions as they adapt, transform and envision sustainable futures. Through this scholarly exchange, we hope to inform decision-making, inspire new lines of inquiry and strengthen the global conversation about what effective leadership looks like in today’s higher education landscape.

Themes and Areas of Interest

We welcome submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

1. Leadership for Innovation and Adaptability

In a rapidly changing landscape, leaders are required to anticipate and respond to shifts in technology, global trends and learner needs. Papers may explore:

• Innovative leadership approaches for digital transformation
• Adaptive strategies for institutional resilience
• The role of traditional leadership models in promoting and enhancing innovation and adaptability.
• Leadership during crises or periods of organizational uncertainty

2. Balancing Academic and Administrative Responsibilities

The dual role of academic leaders—championing scholarly excellence while ensuring effective governance—remains a central challenge. Relevant topics include:

• Strategic management in research-intensive environments
• Financial sustainability and resource allocation
• Governance models that support academic integrity and institutional success

3. Collaboration, Communication and Partnership-Building

Effective leadership fosters robust networks within and beyond the institution. We welcome work examining:

• Interdisciplinary collaboration and academic teamwork
• University–industry or university–community partnerships
• Leadership practices that support diversity, equity and inclusion

4. Developing the Next Generation of Academic Leaders

Preparing future leaders is essential to sustaining institutional vitality. Submissions may cover:

• Leadership development programs and mentoring models
• Competency frameworks for emerging academic leaders
• Succession planning and organizational learning

5. Technology-Enabled Leadership

Digital tools are now central to teaching, learning and institutional management. Papers might address:

• Leadership in digital strategy and educational technology adoption
• AI-supported decision-making and analytics in higher education
• Managing the cultural and organizational implications of digitalization

6. Global Perspectives and Internationalization

Higher education increasingly operates within a global ecosystem. We invite contributions on:

• Cross-cultural leadership and international collaboration
• Comparative analyses of leadership practices across countries
• Strategies for fostering globally inclusive academic environments

7. Ethical and Responsible Leadership

Ethical leadership is the foundation of trust, integrity and societal relevance. Potential topics include:

• Ethical decision-making in higher education governance
• Transparency, accountability and public trust
• Values-driven leadership and institutional mission

8. Crisis Management in Higher Education

Leaders’ responses to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic have reshaped institutional priorities, structures and practices. We invite papers on:

• Crisis preparedness, response and recovery in higher education
• Leadership strategies during public health emergencies, natural disasters, or geopolitical disruptions
• Organizational learning and resilience post-crisis
• Impacts of crisis management on teaching, research, student support and institutional communication
• Innovations triggered or accelerated by crisis conditions—including hybrid models, remote leadership and emergency governance

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Panayiotis Antoniou
Prof. Dr. Maria Eliophotou Menon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Trends in Higher Education is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• higher education leadership
• university governance
• strategic management
• digital transformation
• innovation and change
• crisis management
• ethical leadership
• internationalization
• leadership development
• organizational resilience