Abstract:

This paper examines the impact of an intensive Strategic Sustainability Management course on developing the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies for sustainable leadership. The study maps 4 years of student cohorts from twelve different countries, offering a broad perspective on the educational approaches and outcomes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Through an in-depth qualitative analysis of 96 reflective essays, we explored the transformative learning experiences of these students, focusing on their self-reported developments in understanding and applying sustainability principles in leadership contexts. The findings reveal significant shifts in personal and professional paradigms, highlighting enhanced capabilities in strategic decision-making towards sustainability, sustainable leadership, and intercultural communication. This research contributes to the discourse on ESD by demonstrating how structured higher education programs can effectively cultivate future leaders equipped to address complex sustainability challenges globally. holds benefits for self-awareness, teamwork collaboration, understanding of multiple perspectives, and creating empowered and self-directed future leaders for a sustainable future. The implications of these findings suggest that educational institutions should integrate comprehensive sustainability training into their curricula to foster leaders who can innovate and execute sustainability strategies effectively across various sectors.

Keywords:

Sustainable Leadership, Transformative Learning, Strategic Sustainability Management, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Intercultural Communication, GreenComp.