Digital Educational Leadership and Management in the Era of Digital Transformation: A Systematic Review

Digital transformation has profoundly reshaped the landscape of education, requiring new forms of leadership and management capable of addressing complex technological, pedagogical, and organizational changes. This paper presents a systematic literature review of Digital Educational Leadership (DEL) and Educational Management (EM) in the context of digital education ecosystems. The study synthesizes recent theoretical and empirical research (2015–2026) to identify core competencies, frameworks, challenges, and opportunities associated with digital leadership in education. Findings indicate that effective digital educational leadership is characterized by strategic vision, digital competence, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to foster innovation and collaboration. However, significant barriers remain, including inadequate infrastructure, resistance to change, and insufficient professional development. The paper concludes by proposing an integrative conceptual framework for sustainable digital leadership in education.