Human-Centered Digital Leadership as a Catalyst for Sustainable Transformation in Higher Education: A Strategic Framework

Abstract

This study investigates how digital leadership (DL) drives sustainable performance (SP) in public higher education institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan, focusing specifically on the mediating roles of knowledge sharing (KS) and digital empathy (DE). The digitalization of HEIs necessitates leadership styles that integrate both technological and humancentric capabilities. Prior research has largely overlooked the simultaneous cognitive and emotional mechanisms through which DL influences institutional performance. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, surveying 315 academic professionals across public HEIs using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). DL significantly enhances SP directly and indirectly via KS and DE. Among the mediators, DE exerted a stronger influence, indicating the importance of emotional intelligence in virtual academic environments. The dual-pathway model confirms the role of both knowledge-based and emotional mechanisms in digital leadership effectiveness. HEIs should implement leadership development programs that integrate digital acumen with emotional competencies and foster cultures of knowledge sharing to support sustainable, innovation-driven academic ecosystems.