Innovative leadership in education (2020–2025): a systematic review of trends, competencies, and future directions

A systematic literature review, adhering to the PRISMA framework, analyzed 50 peer-reviewed articles from major academic databases published between 2020 and 2025 focusing on innovative leadership in educational contexts. The review identified key leadership styles, core competencies, and theoretical frameworks that enhance organizational agility and academic achievement within education.

Why it matters

Understanding current trends and effective practices in innovative leadership is crucial for fostering educational environments that can adapt to evolving challenges and opportunities. This knowledge enables institutions to strategically develop leadership capabilities that directly contribute to organizational resilience and improved educational outcomes.

Key insights

• The systematic review covers innovative leadership developments in education from 2020 to 2025.
• It synthesized 50 peer-reviewed articles from major academic databases (e.g., Google Scholar, Scopus).
• Analyzed leadership styles include transformational, participative, and change management approaches.
• The reviewed leadership strategies are shown to promote organizational agility and academic achievement.
• The review highlights core competencies and theoretical frameworks essential for effective innovative leadership in education.

Source

Frontiers in Education — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1905926