Higher education systems worldwide face intensifying pressures for accountability, quality, and effective governance amid continual reform. This article presents a comprehensive integrative analysis framing leadership as a governance mechanism in higher education, synthesizing insights from three prior studies on distributed leadership, contextual leadership challenges, and quality assurance. Drawing on findings that distributed leadership fosters trust and collective efficacy, that higher education leaders navigate complex challenges (e.g. bureaucratic constraints, political interference, resource limitations) especially in developing contexts, and that leadership is pivotal in implementing quality assurance for improved institutional performance, this article proposes a unifying conceptual framework. In this framework, leadership fulfills key governance functions – coordinating institutional efforts, translating accountability demands into improvement-oriented practices, and building trust – which collectively enhance institutional outcomes. The analysis is grounded in contemporary higher education governance debates and offers a model whereby leadership (encompassing both formal and distributed forms) links governance processes to educational quality and performance. By reframing leadership through a governance lens, this article contributes a novel theoretical integration and practical insights for higher education leaders and policymakers striving to improve institutional governance and outcomes.

In the modern healthcare system, characterized by increasing patient demands regarding the quality of timely information and service, the role of an effectively organized call center is of particular importance. The call center functions not merely as a communication channel but as a key element in the system of patient interaction, ensuring the timely provision of information, appointment scheduling, consultation support, and resolution of arising issues. An efficiently functioning call center contributes not only to the optimization of operational processes and improvement of patient loyalty, but also to the enhancement of the financial performance of a medical institution. The relevance of this study is due to the need to identify and analyze the key factors affecting call center efficiency, as well as to develop recommendations for optimizing its operations.

This study examines the effectiveness of zakat distribution during the leadership of Umar bin Abdul Aziz and its relevance to poverty alleviation models in Indonesia. Structural poverty remains a persistent challenge in Indonesia’s economic development, requiring systematic and sustainable solutions. Within Islamic economic thought, zakat functions not only as a religious obligation but also as a fiscal instrument capable of promoting social welfare and economic independence. This research employs a qualitative approach through historical and literature study methods, analyzing classical Islamic governance practices alongside contemporary zakat management in Indonesia. The findings reveal that the success of zakat distribution under Umar bin Abdul Aziz was supported by centralized governance, strong institutional reform of Baitul Mal, strict supervision, and integrity-based leadership, resulting in effective wealth redistribution and significant poverty reduction. The study further finds that productive zakat distribution, institutional integration, regulatory reinforcement, and digital transparency are crucial elements for enhancing the performance of zakat institutions in Indonesia. The implications suggest that strengthening governance, accountability, and productive empowerment programs can transform zakat into a strategic socio-economic policy instrument capable of addressing structural poverty in a sustainable manner.

ABSTRACT True crime content attracts widespread public interest, yet the extent to which perceived significance of exposure shapes people's perceptions of suspects and institutional performance remains understudied. This study offers a pioneering examination of how the perceived significance of exposure to both social and mass media influences public opinion regarding crime cases. I focus on the high-profile case of Roman Zadorov, who was convicted of murdering Tair Rada in 2006 in Katzrin, Israel, imprisoned for over a decade, and ultimately acquitted. Using a nationally representative survey of 500 participants, I investigated how perceived significance of exposure relates to levels of interest, knowledge, opinions, and trust in institutional actors such as the police, prosecutors, and courts. The analysis reveals that social media and mass media exert mutual influence: the more people are exposed to one, the greater their interest in the case. This heightened interest leads to increased knowledge and more critical opinions about Zadorov’s guilt and the functioning of the police, the prosecutors, and the courts. The study’s structural model demonstrates a sequence whereby perceived significance of exposure fuels interest, which in turn enhances knowledge and shapes opinions. To the best of my knowledge, this research is the first to test this full pathway, offering new insight into the powerful role of media in forming public perceptions of institutions and justice.

Parish administrations exhibit heterogeneity in the systematization of public information and in the formalization of accountability mechanisms, generating gaps in documentary consistency, updating practices, and institutional verifiability. This study aimed to analyze the structural effect of public information management on accountability performance within parish governments. A quantitative, explanatory, cross-sectional non-experimental design was adopted. Standardized indices were constructed through documentary coding of official public sources. Descriptive statistics, normality assessment using the Shapiro–Wilk test, internal consistency analysis through Cronbach’s alpha, and structural equation modeling under robust maximum likelihood estimation were performed. The findings revealed intermediate institutional performance levels (M_PIM = 62.8; SD = 11.4; M_ACC = 58.6; SD = 12.1), high internal reliability (α > 0.80), and a strong positive and statistically significant structural effect of public information management on accountability (β = 0.73; p < 0.001), explaining 54% of the observed variance (R² = 0.54), with satisfactory model fit indices (CFI = 0.957; RMSEA = 0.052). The evidence demonstrates that governance of the information cycle constitutes a substantive predictor of parish institutional performance, enhancing traceability, documentary coherence, and verifiable transparency.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to systematically analyse the top shortcomings, underlying causes and recommendations in local government procurement in Tanzania, as documented in the Auditor General’s Reports from 2007 to 2024. Design/methodology/approach This study used document analysis using the READ approach, complemented by a systematic review. The methodology involved four key steps: locating and reviewing relevant materials, data extraction, data analysis and distilling findings. A thorough review was conducted of 17 annual general reports on local government audits conducted by the Controller and Auditor General. Findings This study identified 22 top shortcomings in procurement and contract management practices within local governments. These were categorised into five main categories: inadequate institutional setup and performance; inappropriate preparation and implementation of the annual procurement plan; inadequate implementation of the tender process; inappropriateness of contract preparation, formation and implementation; and inadequate management of procurement and supply records. Practical implications Local government management should ensure that corrective action plans are prepared and submitted to the Auditor General in a timely manner. The Auditor General should establish effective follow-up mechanisms to monitor the implementation of corrective actions by the audited entities. Social implications The identified top shortcomings limit the ability of local government authorities to achieve the best performance in procurement and supply management, potentially affecting service delivery and public accountability. Originality/value This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of the top shortcomings, their causes and associated recommendations in local government procurement and contract management in Tanzania, offering insights that have not been previously synthesised in a single review.

The quality of public service provision in South Africa remains a major challenge particularly among institution mandated to assist vulnerable population. This study investigated the impact of public officials’ attitude on the effectiveness of service provision using South African Social Security Agency as a case study. Although structural and resource-based issues are commonly mentioned in the literature, this study suggests that the frontline official’s attitude, behavior and work ethics are important in assessing citizen experience and institutional performance. The systematic literature review approach has been adopted using existing literature including journals from previous scholars, reports available about customer satisfaction, poor communication and lack of accountability compromise the quality of services, create delays and erode public trust. On the other hand, despite structural limitations, driven and sympathetic government officials help to provide improved service delivery. The study shows that an organization culture, service outcomes and employee morale have a strong relationship.

Purpose: The financial performance of microfinance institutions is a significant aspect in assessing the viability and success of MFIs, with Return on Assets as a measure of the efficiency of these institutions. This research sought to evaluate the effect of board committees on the financial performance of MFIs in Kenya, formulated based on resource dependence theory. Methodology: The study used a descriptive research design and a census technique in which all the 23 registered MFIs in Kenya were analyzed. Secondary data was collected from annual audited financial statements, annual reports, and institutional and regulatory documents from 2019 to 2023 using a secondary data collection sheet. The analysis entailed a panel regression analysis to find the correlation between board committees and financial performance. Panel regression results indicated that board committees have a significant positive effect on the financial performance of MFIs in Kenya. Findings: The findings revealed that 55.10% of financial performance among Kenyan MFIs can be explained by board committees. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that the CBK, in collaboration with the Association of Microfinance Institutions, continue strengthening board committees by enforcing compliance audits and governance training for directors. Policymakers should introduce governance rating systems for MFIs to benchmark board effectiveness and encourage adherence to best practices. The government and AMFI should support capacity-building programs that train MFI board members on ethical leadership, digital transformation, and risk management. Finally, board policies should be aligned with international best practices, such as the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance and the Basel Committee’s guidelines on banking supervision, to ensure that Kenyan MFIs remain competitive and sustainable.

This study investigates the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices and employee performance in Nigerian private universities, with particular emphasis on the mediating role of job satisfaction. The growing competitiveness of private higher education institutions in South-West Nigeria has heightened the need for effective HRM systems capable of enhancing staff commitment, productivity, and institutional effectiveness. However, evidence suggests that HRM practices in many private universities have not consistently translated into improved employee performance, partly due to inadequate attention to employee satisfaction. Drawing on the Resource-Based View and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, this study conceptualizes HRM practices as strategic organizational resources that influence employee performance through job satisfaction. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were collected from academic and non-academic staff of selected private universities in South-West Nigeria using structured questionnaires. HRM practices (recruitment and selection, compensation and rewards, training and development, and employee relations) were treated as independent variables, job satisfaction as the mediating variable, and employee performance as the dependent variable. Data were analyzed using regression and mediation analysis. Findings reveal that HRM practices significantly and positively influence job satisfaction and employee performance. Job satisfaction also exerts a significant positive effect on employee performance and partially mediates the relationship between HRM practices and performance. The results underscore the critical role of employee-centered HRM systems in improving staff outcomes in private universities. The study concludes that strengthening HRM practices that enhance job satisfaction particularly fair compensation, professional development, and supportive employee relations can significantly improve employee performance in Nigerian private universities. The study contributes context-specific empirical evidence to higher education HRM literature in developing economies and provides policy insights for university administrators seeking to enhance institutional performance through strategic human resource management.

This research examines employee motivation and the effectiveness of work in organizational productivity of community colleges in Nepal and explains that motivated staff is essential for the effective teaching and administrative activity and to an efficient institution operation. The study examines the impact of motivation on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as job satisfaction, recognition, leadership style, opportunities for professional development, and work environment in this research. Employing a mixed-methods design, the study synthesizes surveys of faculty and administrative staff with in-depth interviews to present the full picture of motivators as well as the perceived effects of motivational drivers on work performance. Other indices of institutional performance, including student outcomes and research productivity, are also looked through to analyze how this motivational impact drives outcomes, with the intention of finding that there is a link between motivation and specific measure of productivity. Research shows that those employees with supportive leaders, clear communications, and the ability to pursue professional development are greater in engagement, commitment, and effectiveness. Factors such as satisfaction, meaning, personal fulfillment, and a sense of purpose, and extrinsic rewards such as acknowledgement, motivation, and reward, all have positive influence on productivity. For better company performance, you need to understand how college can develop a business and develop culture and ensure these institutions have better staff and organizational outcomes. This study concludes that strategic motivation measures to support the development of motivation of the workforce and its application in community colleges in the context of the institutions of higher education in Nepal is crucial, hence its contribution to the long term development of the community colleges of Nepal as motivation strategies that the institutions are required to implement and it is possible for them to increase human productivity and grow long-term development for the community higher education in Nepal.

This study aims to analyze the effect of emotional intelligence, intellectual intelligence, and social intelligence on employee performance at the Martapura Kota District Office, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province. The research employed a quantitative approach using a survey method. The population consisted of all employees at the Martapura Kota District Office, and a census sampling technique was applied. Data were collected through questionnaires using a Likert scale and analyzed using validity and reliability tests, multiple linear regression analysis, simultaneous testing (F-test), and partial testing (t-test) with the assistance of SPSS software. The results indicate that emotional intelligence, intellectual intelligence, and social intelligence simultaneously have a significant effect on employee performance. Partially, each independent variable also has a significant effect on employee performance. The coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.941 indicates that 94.1% of the variance in employee performance can be explained by emotional intelligence, intellectual intelligence, and social intelligence, while the remaining 5.9% is influenced by other factors outside this study. Based on the beta coefficient values, intellectual intelligence is identified as the most dominant variable influencing employee performance. These findings highlight the importance of developing intellectual, emotional, and social intelligence in an integrated manner to improve employee performance in government institutions.

Purpose The rise of green finance and sustainable investment has become increasingly popular in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals. Nonetheless, there remains a lack of research focusing on the influence of various aspects of green finance on the sustainable performance (SP) of banks, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. This study aims to address this gap by delving into the green finance dimensions and their impacts on the sustainable performance of banks within the country. Design/methodology/approach This research also investigates the extent of adoption of green finance by both banks throughout the period between 2018 and 2022. To achieve its research objectives, the study uses the structural equation modeling technique, given the nature of the data set. Findings The findings reveal that private commercial banks play a leading role in green finance, accounting for 80% of the entire green finance in Pakistan. Moreover, the study establishes a positive correlation between the green finance dimensions and the economic (EC) and social (SO) characteristics of the Sustainable Development Goals. It highlights the substantial influence of the SO and EC dimensions of green finance in enhancing the SP of banks. Significantly, an impressive 93% of bankers acknowledge the importance of green financing in shaping their short- and long-term banking strategies in Pakistan. Research limitations/implications This finding highlights the critical role of green finance in advancing the sustainable performance of financial institutions in developing economies like Pakistan. Originality/value This study makes a valuable and substantial contribution to the current understanding of green finance and its influence on the SP of financial institutions.

Unequal electoral turnout between younger and older citizens has long been a topic of debate, and the size of this age gap differs from one country to another across Europe. Such cross-national variation has not been sufficiently addressed in the literature and thus raises the question of why some countries experience more severe representational failure in electoral turnout than others. A common interpretation is that younger citizens are depicted as apathetic, and their behaviour is intended to be read as a story of the absent generation from political life. While existing literature may show lower turnout among young individuals, attributing this solely to a lack of interest or engagement, it overlooks broader structural issues that may be at play. To move beyond this behavioural blame game, we analyse the relationship between political representation and the age gap in voter turnout using time-series cross-sectional data from rounds 1–11 of the European Social Survey. This research is built on the assumption that unequal participation is due not to a lack of interest in the public good but rather to the representative performance of institutions. Representative performance generally defines a set of descriptive and substantive forms of the representation that institutions are supposed to deliver a meaningful pathway to individuals to engage with electoral politics. Alongside other recent research, this work attempts to contribute to shifting the discourse away from the deeply rooted notion of absenteeism and toward a focus on the representation of institutions.

Introduction Sustainability in higher education requires attracting, retaining, and developing top faculty to maintain academic excellence and institutional resilience. This study investigates whether job engagement and job satisfaction mediate the relationship between talent management and employee performance in Chinese higher education institutions. Methods A cross-sectional, correlational quantitative survey was conducted. Validated scales were adapted for the Chinese higher-education context through expert validation, back to back translation, and pilot testing. Data were collected from 408 faculty members at public universities in Guangdong Province using convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics and reliability/validity assessments were performed in SPSS 29.0. Hypotheses were tested with PLS-SEM in SmartPLS 4.0. Results Talent management positively influences employee performance through two distinct mediating paths: (1) via increased job engagement and (2) via increased job satisfaction. The career development and performance management components of talent management had unique, significant effects on academic employees, reflecting the influence of teaching and research on career trajectories. Discussion Findings provide empirical support for dual mediation consistent with social exchange theory within Chinese higher education. Practical implications include aligning talent management practices (career development, performance management), clarifying job roles, and soliciting regular feedback to boost engagement and satisfaction, thereby improving faculty performance and institutional sustainability. Limitations include cross-sectional design and convenience sampling; future research should use longitudinal and broader sampling to confirm causal directions.

Quality assurance in Islamic Religious Education (IRE) serves as a strategic mechanism for fostering sustainable improvements in teacher performance, yet in many Islamic elementary schools, it remains predominantly administrative and insufficiently linked to enhancing teacher professionalism. This study examines the influence of IRE quality assurance planning and evaluation strategies on teacher performance at Adzikri Islamic Elementary School. Employing a quantitative approach with an explanatory survey design, the research utilized total sampling to include all teachers as respondents. Data were gathered via a validated Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed through multiple linear regression, following classical assumption tests. The results indicate that quality assurance planning strategies exert a significant positive influence on teacher performance (? = 0.312, p < 0.05), while evaluation strategies demonstrate a more dominant effect (? = 0.487, p < 0.01). Collectively, these strategies account for 61.4% of the variance in teacher performance (R² = 0.614). These findings affirm that systematic planning combined with continuous, reflective evaluation when embedded within a cyclical framework substantially elevates pedagogical effectiveness and professional engagement. Conceptually, the study contributes a value-based model of IRE quality assurance that integrates core Islamic principles (such as amanah, ikhlas, and taqwa) into planning and evaluation processes, transforming quality assurance from procedural compliance into a transformative instrument for cultivating faith-centered professionalism and a sustainable quality culture in Islamic elementary education. This contextualized approach offers empirical and theoretical insights for advancing teacher performance and learning quality in similar faith-based institutions.

AI-Integrated Research Information Management Systems (RIMS) are increasingly pivotal in transforming how academic institutions organize, manage, and leverage scholarly information. This study, titled AI-Integrated Research Information Management: A Comparative Institutional Analysis, investigates the impact of Artificial Intelligence on enhancing RIMS functions such as metadata accuracy, researcher profiling, publication tracking, and overall research visibility. Adopting a mixed-method approach, the research combines qualitative insights from structured interviews with library professionals and system administrators, along with quantitative data drawn from institutional repositories, system usage reports, and RIMS documentation. The comparative analysis evaluates key parameters including system architecture, AI-driven functionalities, user engagement, and alignment with global indexing standards. Results reveal that institutions employing AI-enabled RIMS experience significant gains in automated metadata enrichment, efficient workflow management, and real-time data analytics, leading to improved discoverability and institutional research performance. However, the study also identifies persistent challenges such as limited technical infrastructure, integration complexities, and skill gaps among staff. These barriers impede the broader adoption of AI in research management. To address these issues, the study recommends actionable strategies such as fostering AI readiness, implementing targeted training programs, and developing supportive institutional policies. These measures are essential for sustainable and impactful integration of AI within RIMS across diverse academic contexts.

Transparency is a critical determinant of accountability, trust, and effective service delivery in Uganda’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, where governance challenges and information gaps can hinder institutional performance. This study examined the relationship between transparency and education service delivery within the TVET sector in Uganda. The objectives were to assess the extent of transparency in institutional processes, identify factors influencing stakeholders’ perceptions of openness, and examine how transparency relates to education service delivery outcomes. A mixed-methods approach was employed, collecting quantitative data from 122 respondents, including administrators, educators, procurement staff, and policy actors within the TVET sector, using structured questionnaires, complemented by qualitative insights from semi structured interviews. The findings revealed that transparency mechanisms, such as open communication, stakeholder feedback, and clear procedural guidelines, were significant predictors of effective education service delivery, with a positive correlation between transparency and service delivery outcomes (r = 0.572, p < 0.05). However, inconsistencies in implementation and limited accessibility of information were observed across TVET institutions. The study concludes that transparency enhances education service delivery in the TVET sector when integrated with stakeholder participation and technological support. The study recommends strengthening digital transparency platforms, improving feedback mechanisms, and aligning institutional procedures with accountability standards to ensure sustainable and high-quality education service delivery in Uganda’s TVET sector.

Purpose This study aims to develop and validate a student-led measurement instrument for assessing sustainability in higher education institutions (HEIs), using a socio-technical systems (STS) theory lens. The research addresses the gap in normative, context-sensitive evaluation tools for sustainable campuses, particularly within the Malaysian and broader South-East Asian contexts. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a three-phase, mixed-methods approach, the study refined 40 concept-mapped statements into a 25-item instrument through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). This was followed by confirmatory composite analysis (CCA) and a normative-descriptive typology comparison across two Malaysian urban HEIs. The framework’s theoretical basis in STS theory guided the integration of social and technical subsystems in the conceptualisation of campus sustainability. Findings The validated instrument comprises four factors—campus services and facilities, resource policy and usage, sustainable built environment and sustainability and technology—representing the socio-technical dimensions of a sustainable campus. Results revealed significant discrepancies between student expectations and their observations of campus sustainability efforts, highlighting gaps in institutional performance and communication. Practical implications The instrument enables HEIs to track and align sustainability initiatives with student expectations, promoting iterative improvement and participatory governance. Originality/value This study offers a novel bottom-up, student-driven approach to evaluating HEI sustainability and extends STS theory into the domain of higher education. It addresses the underrepresentation of Asian HEIs in sustainability research and responds to global calls for contextualised, stakeholder-inclusive assessment tools.

This paper examines how portfolio management practices influence benefits realization in Ghanaian public universities, focusing on the mediating role of strategic resource alignment and the moderating role of institutional culture. It provides empirical evidence on how structured portfolio systems support institutional performance and strategic outcomes. A quantitative cross-sectional design complemented by qualitative insights was used. Data were collected from 76 professionals across three public universities through structured questionnaires. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and PROCESS analysis tested the proposed relationships, while thematic analysis examined open-ended responses. Findings showed that portfolio management practices significantly enhance benefits realization both directly and indirectly through strategic resource alignment, although the mediation was not statistically significant. Institutional culture did not moderate the relationship but shaped the environment supporting effective portfolio practices. Qualitative findings revealed issues such as delayed funding and weak governance, with suggested remedies like centralized portfolio management and improved accountability. The study focused on three public universities, which may limit generalizability. Future research should adopt longitudinal and multi-institutional designs to validate these findings across broader higher education contexts.

This research aims to demonstrate the role of blockchain technology in enhancing administrative transparency by illustrating how this modern technology can be employed in developing administrative systems and achieving the principles of administrative transparency. To achieve the research objectives, a questionnaire was designed as the primary data collection tool. The questionnaire comprised 50 questions, and the opinions of 246 individuals were gathered in a completely new way. The research adopted a descriptive and analytical approach, utilizing several statistical and software methods. The SPSS v26 statistical software was used to determine frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, relative importance, reliability, internal consistency, and normality. The AMOS v24 statistical software was used to analyze correlation and impact relationships. The results concluded that adopting blockchain technology in administrative systems can significantly contribute to achieving transparency within the university by providing a reliable and secure digital database, improving information accuracy, and enhancing accountability among different administrative levels. The study recommends the adoption of a comprehensive digital strategy at the University of Mosul that includes the integration of blockchain technology. Blockchain technology is integrated into its administrative system to ensure improved institutional performance and the achievement of smart university management based on integrity and transparency.