STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION: EVALUATING THE AGILITY OF SAUDI ARABIA UNIVERSITIES IN A CHANGING EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE

In the context of rapid technological disruption and the global shift toward digital higher education, strategic leadership has emerged as a pivotal factor in driving institutional agility and resilience. This study explores the role of strategic leadership in enhancing organisational adaptability within Saudi Arabia universities, particularly in alignment with the goals of Vision 2030. Drawing on strategic leadership theory and concepts of institutional agility, the research adopts a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with senior academic leaders from four Saudi universities. Thematic analysis uncovered key leadership practices, enablers, and barriers to fostering institutional responsiveness and innovation. Findings reveal that while Saudi HEIs demonstrate increasing strategic vision and alignment with national digital agendas, significant challenges persist in areas of distributed decision-making, leadership capacity building, and change management processes. The study concludes with a proposed framework for strategic leadership that supports institutional agility in similar socio-cultural and policy-driven contexts. This research contributes to the global discourse on leadership in higher education by presenting insights from a rapidly evolving non-Western educational context.