TY  - JOUR
SP  - 189
N2  - This study explored the lived leadership experiences of two former Deans at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), with particular attention to how human-centred leadership was practised during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of digital transformation in higher education. A qualitative narrative inquiry design with reflexive thematic analysis was employed to investigate critical leadership incidents, decision-making processes, and adaptive strategies in the shift to remote learning, and digital pedagogy. The analysis identified five interrelated leadership themes, namely empathy-driven engagement, fairness in digital resource allocation, reciprocal trust-building through virtual communication, empowerment of faculty and students in technology-mediated learning, and adaptive responsiveness in technology-intensive contexts. The findings demonstrate the importance of emotional intelligence, ethical leadership, and situational agility in  developing resilient, inclusive, and digital-ready educational ecosystems. By situating leadership  within institutional transformation, the study provides practical insights for academic leaders  seeking to promote innovation, digital well-being, and technology-enhanced teaching and learning in the post-pandemic era.
PB  - Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia
JF  - Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education
AV  - public
IS  - 1
ID  - iab_repo1699
UR  - https://ejournal.usm.my/apjee/article/view/apjee_vol41-no-1-2026_9/pdf
EP  - 217
A1  - Inda, Abdulmumini
A1  - Saleh, Sofia Zianti
A1  - Tasir, Zaidatun
A1  - Ajmain@Jima?ain, Muhammad Talhah
A1  - Jamilu Sa?idu, Sabo
A1  - Mohd Yusof, Sanita
A1  - Sihes, Ahmad Johari
A1  - Alhaji Rabiu, Aliyu
A1  - Yusuf Usman, Abdullahi
A1  - Al Murshidi, Ghadah
TI  - Human-centred academic leadership in digital transformation of higher education: insights from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
VL  - 41
ER  -