Digital Leadership and School Management in Higher Education: A Comparative Study of Romania and Cambodia
Abstract
The process of digital transformation has dramatically changed the government and management practices in higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide. Digital leadership has become one of the determinants of this change. The present study attempts to explore the influence of digital leadership on the management of schools in higher education. Qualitative comparative research was carried out. The entire analysis is based on secondary sources only and consists of a literature review of public universities in Romania and Cambodia. A qualitative comparative research methodology was used for this study, based on secondary data collection and a literature review. This information was obtained from 42 sources, such as academic journal articles, national policy documents, institutional reports, and other studies focusing on digital leadership and higher education management in Romania and Cambodia, from 2019 to 2026. The main conclusions are that digital leadership greatly increases organizational performance through better administration, communication, data-driven decision-making, and flexibility. HEIs in Romania have achieved a high level of digitalization because of advanced infrastructure, policy, and leadership abilities. Moreover, HEIs in Cambodia are at an early stage of digital transformation with poor infrastructure and low digital competence. In conclusion, digital leadership plays an imperative role in driving the transformation process in HEIs. The effectiveness of this type of leadership strongly depends on context-specific aspects such as infrastructure, finances, and the readiness of institutions for change. The development of leaders' capabilities, the establishment of digital infrastructure, and the development of digital competencies among personnel are essential in both nations. The current research contributes to existing studies related to digital leadership and the comparative higher education governance literature.