Prelims

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Transformative Leadership and Sustainable Innovation in Education

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EMERALD STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Series Editors: Miltiades D. Lytras and Anna Visvizi

Emerald Studies in Higher Education, Innovation and Technology seeks to provide a multifaceted and interdisciplinary approach to these interconnected topics and invites proposals from all scholars working in these fields. The underlying purpose of this series is to demonstrate how innovations in education, educational technology, and teaching can advance research and practice and help us respond to socio-economic changes and challenges.

The series has a broad scope, covering many topics, including but not limited to: learning analytics, open and distributed learning, technology-enhanced learning, digital pedagogies, data mining, virtual and augmented realities, cloud computing, social media, educational robotics, flipped classrooms, active learning, innovation networks, and many more.

Interested in publishing in this series? Please contact Miltiades D. Lytras and Anna Visvizi, at mlytras@acg.edu and avisvizi@acg.edu.

Published books:

• The Future of Innovation and Technology in Education: Policies and Practices for Teaching and Learning Excellence (2018)

  Anna Visvizi, Miltiadis D. Lytras and Linda Daniela

• Management and Administration of Higher Education Institutions at Times of Change (2019)

  Anna Visvizi, Miltiadis D. Lytras and Akila Sarirete

• Technology-enhanced Learning and Linguistic Diversity: Strategies and Approaches to Teaching Students in a 2nd or 3rd Language (2020)

  Patrick-André Mather

• Effective Leadership for Overcoming ICT Challenges in Higher Education: What Faculty, Staff and Administrators Can Do to Thrive Amidst the Chaos (2021)

  Antonella Carbonaro and Jennifer Moss Breen

• Teaching the EU: Fostering Knowledge and Understanding in the Brexit Age (2021)

  Anna Visvizi, Mark Field and Marta Pachocka

• Moving Higher Education Beyond Covid-19: Innovative and Technology-enhanced Approaches to Teaching and Learning

  Anna Visvizi, Miltiadis D. Lytras, and Haifa Jamal Al-Lail

• Technology-enhanced Healthcare Education: Transformative Learning for Patient-centric Health

  Cristina Vaz de Almeida and Miltiadis D. Lytras

Title Page

Emerald Studies in Higher Education, Innovation and Technology

Transformative Leadership and Sustainable Innovation in Education: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

EDITED BY

SANDRA BAROUDI

Zayed University, UAE

AND

MILTIADIS D. LYTRAS

Effat University, Saudi Arabia

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Copyright Page

Emerald Publishing Limited

Emerald Publishing, Floor 5, Northspring, 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL.

First edition 2024

Editorial matter and selection © 2024 Sandra Baroudi and Miltiadis D. Lytras.

Individual chapters © 2024 The authors.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

Reprints and permissions service

Contact: www.copyright.com

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying issued in the UK by The Copyright Licensing Agency and in the USA by The Copyright Clearance Center. Any opinions expressed in the chapters are those of the authors. Whilst Emerald makes every effort to ensure the quality and accuracy of its content, Emerald makes no representation implied or otherwise, as to the chapters’ suitability and application and disclaims any warranties, express or implied, to their use.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-83753-537-8 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-83753-536-1 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-83753-538-5 (Epub)

Dedication

To all the people all over the world that promote peace, friendship, and collaboration between nations and vision a transformative leadership to bring happiness, prosperity, and wisdom to all the people on our planet.

Contents

List of Figures and Tables

About the Editors

Sandra Baroudi [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5130-6980] is an Assistant Professor at Zayed University, Dubai, UAE and the Co-founder of EDUVATE, a professional development and training institute. She is an expert in leadership and management in education, an international journal reviewer, trainer, and research consultant, with extensive experience in academia in the UAE. She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership, Management, and Policy in Education from the British University in Dubai, UAE. She is a highly skilled trainer and curriculum designer in the field of leadership and policies and teaching and learning. She is a QM-certified Peer Reviewer, a Certified Associate for the Blackboard Academy, and a Fellow for Advanced Higher Education. She was a Fellow for the Education Endowment Foundation in the UK and the Queen Rania Foundation in Jordan where she led the contextualisation of the Teaching and Learning Toolkit into the Arab world context. In her work, she seeks to provide evidence-based data and best practices for leaders and educators in the Arab world with the aim of supporting their decisions to promote innovative and quality education.

Miltiadis D. Lytras is a Visiting Researcher at Effat University. He is a world-class expert in the fields of cognitive computing, information systems, technology-enabled innovation, social networks, computers in human behaviour, and knowledge management. He is an expert in advanced computer science and management, editor, lecturer, and research consultant, with extensive experience in academia and the business sector in Europe and Asia.

He has co-authored more than 120 high impact factor papers in Q1 and Q2, Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus indexed journals such as: IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering, IEEE Internet Computing, IEEE Transactions on Education, IEEE Access, Future Generation Computer Systems, Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Information Management, Journal of Innovation and Knowledge, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Ambient Technology and Humanized Computing, World Wide Web Journal, Computers in Human Behavior, Studies in Higher Education, Telematics and Informatics, Information Systems Management, International Journal of Engineering Education, Journal of Universal Computer Science, Journal of Knowledge Management, British Journal on Education Technology, Interactive Learning Environment, Educational Technology and Society, Behavior and Information Technology, etc.

He has 25 years of experience in research and development (R&D) projects and grants with significant skills and competencies to the successful conceptualisation, financing, and implementation of R&D projects with extensive experience in Europe, Middle East, and Far East. He has been involved in more than 70 R&D projects overtime.

He has held various senior editorial positions in prestigious journals over time including editor in chief and associate editor positions. He has also the privilege to guest edit more than 130 special issues in high impact factor journals. He is Founding Editor and Editor in Chief of International Journal on Semantic Web and Information Systems (high impact factor and WoS indexed). His additional editorial positions (selected) include: Founding Editor in Chief, International Journal on Technology Enhanced Learning; Founding Editor in Chief, International Journal of Knowledge and Learning; and Founding Editor in Chief of International Journal of Knowledge Society Research.

About the Authors

Shadell A. AlGhamdi is a medical student majoring in Medicine and Surgery at KSAU-HS JED, with an outstanding academic performance. She is a creative person who eagerly seeks opportunities and experience and shows continuous interest in learning and growing. Her dedication to making a positive impact on society is evident through her active involvement in extracurricular activities, successful campaigns, and volunteer work. Her enthusiasm and commitment to these endeavours reflect her desire to contribute to the well-being of others and make a difference in her community. With a keen interest in the field, she has dedicated significant time and effort to conducting research in the astounding areas of nanomedicine, as it has undoubtedly captured her attention and fuelled her passion for exploration and discovery.

In addition to her academic achievements and research pursuits, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a strong commitment to personal and professional development. She has taken on the role of Coordinator for KAIMRC’s research summer school, showcasing her ability to organise and manage educational programmes for aspiring researchers. With her outstanding academic performance, research dedication, leadership abilities, and passion for learning, she is poised to become a future leader in the field of medicine.

Louis Okon Akpan is a Nigerian. He is an Academic Staff with the National Open University of Nigeria. However, his academic journey started in 1995. He obtained B.Sc. (Ed.) in Geography/Education from the University of Calabar. On graduation, he went to the University of Ibadan where he obtained M.Sc. in Climatology in 2001. He also graduated with another Master’s degree in Comparative Education from the same university in 2003. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Com. in Comparative Education and Leadership and Governance, respectively, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. His research interests are comparative education, gender and sexuality studies, and marginalised people education. He published widely in some renowned journals and book chapters.

Khawla Alhasan is Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems (MIS) at the Arab Open University. She received a Ph.D. degree in MIS from De Montfort University. Her research interests are artificial intelligence, smart cities, and adaptive eLearning. Since 2018, she’s been a Reviewer in Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanized Computing.

Basim S. Alsaywid has Paediatric Urology Fellowship (Sydney Children Hospital Network) at the Saudi Board of Urology, Master of Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology), and Master of Health Profession Education. He is Paediatric Urologist (Reconstructive), Paediatric Urology Section, Urology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is the Director of Education and Research Skills Directory, Saudi National Institute of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has 12 years of experience in general paediatric urology, reconstructive paediatric urology, and paediatric end-urology. Since 2012, he has been a Consultant Paediatric Urologist at King Abdulaziz Medical City at the Ministry of National Guard in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, solely responsible for covering the service for almost 10 years. During his service at the National Guard Hospital in Jeddah, he served as Director of Training of the Urology programme for six years. He was appointed as Chairman of the Research Committee at KSAU-HS, Jeddah, and was the Founder and Head of the Research Office at the College of Medicine and the College of Applied Medical Sciences, and Research and Development Department at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties from 2019 to 2021. Currently, he is the Director of Education and Research Skills, the Saudi National Institute of Health, since 2021. He has also contributed to international humanitarian efforts, volunteering with the King Salman for Humanitarian and Relief Center as a Lead Paediatric Urology Surgeon in Yemen and other African countries, performing a wide range of complex reconstructive procedures under severely limited resources.

Ahmad AlZahrani is a dedicated medical student currently pursuing his education at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia. With a passion for understanding the intricacies of human health and disease, he actively engages in various academic and extracurricular activities aimed at furthering his knowledge and skills in the medical field. He is particularly interested in exploring innovative approaches to healthcare delivery and researching advancements in medical technology. He strives to contribute meaningfully to the improvement of healthcare systems while ensuring their sustainability for future generations.

Afnan Alkhaldi is a scholar and an expert in the field of Operation and Information Management, with a specialisation in smart cities and e-governments. Her research interests lie in the intersection of technology, innovation, and management, and she is passionate about exploring innovative solutions to real-world problems in her field. She completed her Ph.D. in Operation and Information Management from the University of Bradford in 2021. Prior to that, she pursued her Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Kuwait Maastricht School of Management in 2016 and her Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from the Gulf University for Science and Technology in 2012. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor of Management at Arab Open University – Kuwait, where she is committed to providing her students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to succeed in their careers. In addition to her academic pursuits, she has practical experience in operation and information management, having worked at the Kuwait Municipality Information System Department for several years. She was responsible for control systems development in GIS, where she made significant contributions to the development of GIS control systems and gained valuable insights into the practical applications of her research.

Haifa Jamal Al-Lail is a prominent academic and leadership figure, currently serving as the President of Effat University. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and has an extensive background in public administration and higher education management. Her career is marked by significant contributions to the development of women’s education in Saudi Arabia. Before her current role, she served as the Dean of Effat College and has held various influential positions, including Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economic & Administration and Manager of the Administration Development Department at King Abdul-Aziz University. Her expertise extends to international education, as evidenced by her fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, and her membership in the HERS Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration at Bryn Mawr College, USA. As an educator, she has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in public policy, cooperation, research seminars, and public administration principles. She is a member of several prestigious associations and councils, including the AACSB Middle East and North Africa Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees for various organisations. Her research interests are reflected in her publications, focussing on higher education innovation, Islamic and cultural ethos in business, and the challenges and opportunities of internationalising higher education in Saudi Arabia. Her contributions to education and leadership have been recognised with numerous awards, such as The Pioneers of the Gulf – Excellence in Education and Science, and the TAKREEM Award in the Creativity in Education Category. She is a visionary leader and educator, playing a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of higher education and women’s empowerment in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Tayeb Brahimi is a distinguished Associate Professor at Effat University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he has made substantial contributions to the fields of engineering and basic science. He obtained his Ph.D. from the esteemed Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, specialising in integrating fundamental scientific principles to advance technology and solve real-world problems. His career journey spans from a Research Scientist at Bombardier Chair in Canada to a Programmer Analyst, QA Engineer, and Consultant in California and Texas. With an impressive track record of over 150 publications, he has made significant contributions in areas like renewable energy, engineering education, aircraft icing, and artificial intelligence. Recognised globally, he has played an instrumental role in the development of pivotal codes like CANICE for aircraft icing predictions and CARDAAS for wind turbine aerodynamics. He is a recipient of multiple accolades, including the recent “Best Presentation” at IEEE and IEOM in Singapore, the Queen Effat Award for Excellence in both Teaching and Research, and the prestigious Senior Fellow distinction from the UK Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Learning. Beyond academia, he’s a visionary educator and speaker, committed to fostering innovation in STEAM and engineering education.

Gertrudes Aparecida Dandolini holds a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Production Engineering and an undergraduate degree in Mathematics, all from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. She is currently a full Professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina at the Postgraduate Programme in Engineering and Knowledge Management (PPGEGC) of the Department of Knowledge Engineering. She was the Coordinator of the PPGEGC between 2016 and 2019 and is one of the leaders of the research group on Management Intelligence and Technology for Innovation. Her research themes are mainly front end of innovation, innovation management, social innovation, knowledge management and entrepreneurship, practical wisdom, and network learning. She has more than 400 publications among articles, books, and book chapters, and has executed several research/extension projects, especially in the context of the public sector (in the area of education and public security).

Leonor Domingos is an Architect with a Ph.D. in Architecture of the Metropolitan Contemporary Territories, and a specialisation in digital architecture. She is an Associated Researcher at ISTAR (Research Centre for the Sciences of Information, Technology, and Architecture) and, currently, is working at Iscte as a post-doctoral researcher, producing content for digital and distance education, in the scope of ERASMUS+ projects. She has articles published about her work designing and building for extreme climates (in the context of climate change) and multi-criteria decision models. Her work is mostly focussed on assessing the sustainability of buildings and cities, through 3D modelling and visual programming, and digital tools. Lately, she has focussed on researching digital learning processes and new tools for the development of digital skills in higher education, and how new technologies can improve the learning experience.

Rana El-Sabbagh is a Ph.D. candidate in education. She is a Researcher, Lecturer, and Academic Advisor at Jinan University, Lebanon. She has more than 13 years’ experience in English language teaching, mentoring, and coordinating. Her research interest includes AI, TESOL, technology-enhanced learning, and teacher training and development. She is the owner of LEAD Language Center where she is eager to bring students into the 21st century using a unique combination of education experience coupled with more than 10 years’ business background in computer skills and management.

Nadia Halabi is an education expert with over 18 years of experience in the field. She has a Master’s degree in Education. Throughout her career, she has focussed on incorporating innovation and inquiry-based skills into curriculum and teaching strategies. Her educational expertise includes managing and leading schools, strategy development, leading professional training, data analysis, and global best practices.

Malakeh Itani is an Assistant Professor teaching Communications Skills courses at Dar Al-Hekma University in KSA. With more than 20 years of experience in teaching, mentoring, and coordinating, she is equipped with skills that promote students’ engagement in education that prepare them to become leaders and pioneers. Moreover, she has worked as the Head of the Quality Assurance Office, the Head of the Examination Committee, and the Head of the Curriculum Committee at the General Education Programme at the university. The most recent award that she has received is Ibrahim Julaidan’s Award for Distinguished Academic Performance.

Sereen M. Kazim is a fourth-year student majoring in Medicine and Surgery at Jeddah University, with excellent academic performance. She is a very active person who has participated in multiple volunteer activities, campaigns, conferences, and competitions, both nationally and internationally. She is a person who is interested in medical AI and conducting multiple research projects in different medical fields. One of her recent works was on investigating the relationship between sleep disorders and eye disease. She was also both a student and Coordinator in the Research Summer School (RSS13) at KAIMRC. Currently, she is conducting multiple research projects. She is looking for research opportunities, competitions, and internships.

Rebecca Keogh is the Manager of the English for Academic Purposes programme at the University of Birmingham, Dubai. She has worked in the higher education sector in teaching, curriculum development, student support, and managerial roles for more than 20 years in Australia, Japan, Korea, India, and the UAE, and is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree programme in Applied Linguistics. Her professional experience is varied and includes work in international development assistance and social impact, involving the management of donor-funded training projects for the likes of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the World Bank, UNICEF, the ADB, and various government scholarship bodies.

Dana Khafagi is a driven Radiology Major enrolled at the University of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With a keen interest in the intricate visualisations of the human body offered by radiological imaging techniques, she is dedicated to mastering the art and science of radiology. She actively participates in research projects exploring novel imaging modalities and techniques aimed at enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient care outcomes. She is particularly passionate about leveraging technological innovations in radiology to improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency. Her research interests also extend to the application of sustainable practices in radiological departments, such as minimising radiation exposure and optimising imaging protocols to reduce environmental impact. With a strong commitment to advancing both the field of radiology and sustainable healthcare practices, she is poised to make significant contributions to the intersection of technology, healthcare, and environmental stewardship.

Andreia de Bem Machado holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and Knowledge Management. She is Professor at the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina and a postdoctoral student at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. She is at the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (Ministry of Education of Brazil). She has been working in the educational field for over 25 years. Currently, her research interests are public policy and political science and innovation and business management issues: innovation, education, digital transformation, management, hybrid education, digital technologies, active methodology, knowledge media, entrepreneurship, and knowledge management. She is the author of numerous articles and book chapters published in national and international journals.

Sawsan Malik is an Assistant Professor at the Arab Open University – Kuwait branch. Her main research interests are entrepreneurship, business start-up and creation, sustainable developmental goals, informal economy, smart cities, e-government, digital transformation, and process management. She specialised in qualitative research methods (grounded theory, constructivist grounded theory, ethnography, thematic analysis, and discourse analysis). She is a peer reviewer for many well-known academic journals: Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Revista de Gestão, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, and Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. She is the founder of the first and the only website http://www.hbbhub.com which provides a picture of the nature of home-based businesses in Kuwait, the challenges that home-based business owners face, and business success stories behind the formalised home-based businesses.

Karen Palmer is an ESL Lecturer and Department Coordinator for the University Academic Preparation Programme (UAPP) at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She has been teaching ESL for over 20 years, preparing students for university life and beyond. Also, she has worked on the UAPP curriculum committee, exam committee, and event planning committee. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Educational Technology. Her vision is to utilise technology in an innovative way to help change students’ critical learning skills.

Fatma F. S. Said is an Assistant Professor in Applied Linguistics at Zayed University, UAE. Her research is centred within Sociolinguistics and Applied Linguistics and primarily focusses on the bilingualism of Arabic-English-speaking children and their families. The interdisciplinary issues of identity, agency, language development, language maintenance, language socialisation, and family language policy inform her work. Additionally, she has an interest in how current research methodologies can be enhanced to support multilingual data collection, management, and analysis. She is an Editorial Board member of Multilingua (De Gruyter), English Language Teaching (Oxford University Press), and the newly formed Journal of Arabic Sociolinguistics (Edinburgh University Press).

Akila Sarirete an esteemed Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at Effat College of Engineering, brings a rich tapestry of experience encompassing education, research, and industry leadership. Her tenure as a Cisco Regional Academy Coordinator highlights her proficiency in bridging academia and industry. Before transitioning to academia, she excelled in the industry as a Senior Technical Consultant at Peregrine Systems, Concord, CA, and Inovis Systems, Dallas, TX. In her academic role, she has significantly contributed to computer science education, supervising many projects and authoring more than 85 research papers. Her administrative positions, including Dean of Effat College of Engineering, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, Director of the Energy and Technology Research Center, and Chair of the Computer Science Department, have been characterised by innovative programme development, enhanced research output, and strengthened industry partnerships. Her commitment to both academic excellence and practical application in her field has earned her several accolades, including the Effat University Award for Excellence in Research and Teaching, marking her as a pivotal figure in shaping future technology leaders and advancing computer science.

Maria José Sousa has a Ph.D. in Management. She is a University Professor and a Research Fellow at ISCTE/IUL and CIEO (Algarve University). Her research interests currently are public policies and political science, innovation, and business management issues. She is a best-seller author in ICT and People Management and has co-authored over 70 articles and book chapters and published in several scientific journals (e.g. Journal of Business Research, UAIS, Future Generations Computer Systems, Journal of Medical Systems, International Journal Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, Knowledge Management, Wseas Transactions on Business and Economics, Information Systems Frontiers, etc.), she has organised and peer-reviewed international conferences. She is also an External Expert of the COST Association – European Cooperation in Science and Technology.

Jeremy B. Williams is Professor of Practice in the College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Zayed University, Dubai. As an ecological economist with more than 30 years of experience in higher education in Australia, Singapore, France, India, and the UAE, he has held senior executive-level positions in both university and corporate sectors and is noted for his scholarship in education futures. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he has an interest in digital pedagogies, authentic assessment design, and the digitisation of the curriculum. He is an active member of the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) organisation and currently serves as a member of the global PRME (i5) Expert Pedagogy Group.

Preface

Transformative Leadership and Sustainable Innovation in Education: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

We live in times of radical changes. In this context, higher education has to play a pivotal role in the transformation of our society, economy, and entrepreneurship with a green, sustainable footprint.

The management of the youth talent and the utilisation of the creativity and innovative spirit of young students is a critical challenge. In parallel, the arrival of new disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Robotics, re-challenge the human part contribution in all the initiatives related to transformative leadership.

Our volume is an interesting journey. With excellent contributions from prolific researchers from all over the world, we investigate the determinants, the methodologies, and the added value of transformative leadership in universities and colleges.

In 16 chapters, we communicate an integrated agenda for transformative leadership and sustainable innovation in higher education. Items include but are not limited to:

• Leadership and Innovation in Higher Education in 2035: The Open Research Agenda.

• Driving Innovation: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Adaptive Leadership for Cultural Change.

• Transformative Leadership in Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority: Investing in Talent, Innovation and the Next Generation.

• Transforming Learning in Steam: How AI Tools and Language Models Catalyze Educational Advancement.

• Creating a Metaverse-based Innovative Digital Learning Environment.

• Nurturing Innovation: Mentoring and the Development of Exemplary Leadership Practices for Empowering Female Students in Higher Education.

• Exploring the Future of Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research Space in Nigerian Universities for Scholarship Sustainability.

• School as Sustainable Enterprise: Building Climate Resilient Communities Through Investment in the Girl Child.

• Bilingual Language Education as Key to Sustainable Knowledge Production for the Knowledge Economy in the Gulf.

• Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain in Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review.

• Innovation, Leadership, and Education: How Effat University is Paving the Way for Vision 2030.

• Transforming Education Through Digital Technology: Shifting the Role of Innovation and Critical Thinking to Students.

• Digital Transformation in Higher Education in Kuwait: Towards Resilient Sustainable Development and Bold Innovation.

• Transformative Leadership and Sustainable Innovation in Higher Education: Setting the Context.

• Nurturing Future Leaders: Cultivating Research and Innovation Skills in Saudi Scientific Community.

• Embracing the Shift: The Innovation Journey in Saudi Arabia’s Educational Landscape.

We do hope that the diverse audiences will value our efforts and the contributions of the more than 50 contributors. The outcome of our intellectual work is a bold contribution to the body of knowledge of transformative leadership and sustainable innovation in higher education.

Our times request reflective actions and proactive plans. Our key message in this edited volume is the need for a motivational shift in strategic planning of universities and colleges. Higher education institutions have to re-invent the merits and the miracles of human, individual, team, societal, and inter-cultural contributions to a new global agenda of leadership for peace, friendship, prosperity, and happiness.

All the diverse stakeholders have to re-work their agendas and need to develop action plans, and roadmaps to promote in bold ways the next-generation value strategy of their academic institutions with an outlook on people, their lives, and their prosperity in a world of global peace and understanding. Somehow, we have to re-invent our soft and creative human nature in turbulent times of wars and tensions globally. What a hard task!!!

Sandra Baroudi, Miltiadis D. Lytras

Acknowledgements

With heartfelt thank you to the exceptional colleagues and contributors of this volume for their intellectual work and their commitment to a common vision for a better, happier, and healthier world for all.

We thank also the amazing Emerald Publishing Team and the TNQ staff for their dedication to this project.