Sustainable Leadership in International Schools

A Stakeholder Alignment Perspective

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/rq6fpy79

Keywords:

International schools; Sustainability; Qualitative content analysis; Multiple case study; Educational improvement.

Abstract

This study investigates how international schools in Shanghai address sustainability challenges through stakeholder-driven strategies. Drawing on stakeholder theory, the research examines how parents, teachers, and school leaders perceive and prioritize strategic responses to complex institutional pressures. A qualitative multiple-case design was employed, involving semistructured and unstructured interviews with 16 participants (3 parents, 5 teachers, and 8 school leaders), and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings identify four interrelated strategy domains: student-, teacher-, parent-, and system-focused approaches. While student-focused strategies are most visible due to their direct impact, the study reveals that effectiveness is not inherent in individual strategies but emerges from their alignment across stakeholders. Teacher strategies build capacity, system strategies provide structural support, and parent strategies enhance relational trust, collectively forming an integrated model of value creation.

Author Biographies

  • Yihong Peng, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Temuan, Malaysia

    Yihong Peng is a senior researcher in China’s international education industry and has been in the industry for more than 10 years. She received her M.Ed. from Shanghai Normal University, China; an MBA from East China Normal University, China; and an EMBA from the University College of Yayasan Pahang, Malaysia, and she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia. She is committed to in-depth research on China’s international education industry and contributes to the development of the industry

  • Bity Salwana Alias, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Temuan, Malaysia

    Bity Salwana Alias served in the Planning and Research Division of Education Policy, Commentary on Education Malaysia, from 2009 to 2018 after graduating from Doctor of Philosophy Degree as Assistant Director in the Research and Evaluation Sector. She started serving as a Senior Lecturer at UKM in 2018. The study specializes in the field of administration and noble values, including unity and integrity

  • Azlin Norhaini Mansor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Temuan, Malaysia

    Azlin Norhaini Mansor received her Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and a Master of Education and Bachelor of Science (Biology) from New York State University at Albany, New York, USA. She is currently an Associate Professor and a member of the Centre for Shaping Advanced and Professional Education (UKMShape). Her publications and research interests include educational leadership, educational management, policy evaluation, and various fields involving teaching and learning

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Published

2026-04-29

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 14 (2026): Journal of International Students

Section

Research Articles (English, regular edition)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Yihong Peng, Bity Salwana Alias, Xinyu Wan, Azlin Norhaini Mansor

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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How to Cite

Peng, Y., Alias, B. S. ., Wan, X. ., & Mansor, A. N. . (2026). Sustainable Leadership in International Schools: A Stakeholder Alignment Perspective. Journal of International Students, 16(14), 109-132. https://doi.org/10.32674/rq6fpy79