Designing a Sustainable Leadership Model to Enhance Administrative Competencies for Implementing ESD Principles in Jordanian Universities: A fuzzy approach

Introduction:
This study responds to the pressing need for leadership frameworks that support Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in higher education. In Jordanian universities, structural and governance constraints hinder effective ESD integration, necessitating a context-specific leadership model.

Methods:
A two-round Fuzzy Delphi Method was employed to identify and prioritise essential components of the sustainable leadership model. Round 1 established expert consensus on key elements, while Round 2 ranked their relevance to refine the model’s structure.

Findings:
The final model comprises five dimensions: Self, University Community, Educational Integration, Sustainability Governance, and Sustainability Partnerships. High-priority items highlight the role of ethical leadership, stakeholder empowerment, integrated planning, and cross-sector collaboration in driving institutional change.

Conclusions:
This model offers a practical, adaptable framework for embedding ESD in universities facing systemic limitations. It supports global sustainability efforts by illustrating how leadership can operationalise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through context-sensitive educational reform.