Editors

Simon Jebsen, Department of Business and Sustainability & Centre for Organising Social Sustainability, University of Southern Denmark
Sylvia Rohlfer, Department of Business, Institute for Business and Innovation, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, Austria
Martin Senderovitz, Zealand Academy of Technologies and Business, Denmark
Abderrahman Hassi, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco

We are pleased to announce the development of the Research Handbook of Sustainable Leadership with Edward Elgar Publishing. This comprehensive and cutting-edge resource will explore the multifaceted nature of contemporary sustainable leadership research and teaching. We invite proposals for chapters from authors wishing to contribute to this important and timely publication.

Handbook Overview

This handbook comprehensively explores sustainable leadership, encompassing theoretical foundations, empirical research, and practical applications in teaching and learning. It is divided into three core sections, framed by an introductory and a concluding chapter:

Part I: Theoretical Foundations

This part establishes the groundwork for understanding sustainable leadership by examining its core concepts, principles, and frameworks. It explores the multifaceted nature of sustainability, encompassing ecological, social, and economic dimensions, and highlights the challenges of balancing competing priorities in pursuing a sustainable future. The chapters in this part explore a range of ethical frameworks that can guide leadership decision-making for sustainability. Chapters also analyse how various leadership theories can be beneficial for understanding sustainability within organisations and communities. Furthermore, Part I examines the psychological and social-psychological foundations of sustainable leadership, exploring, for example, the role of motivation, values, cognitive biases, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness in shaping leader behaviour and decision-making. It also provides a detailed analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, highlighting their importance in integrating sustainability into organisational strategy and practice.

Possible questions chapters could address are:

·         What are the key ethical frameworks informing leaders seeking to promote sustainability?

·         How can different leadership theories, such as transformational leadership and servant leadership, be applied to advance sustainability goals?

·         Do we need new leadership theories to grasp the nature of sustainable leadership?

·         What is the role of individual psychological factors, such as motivation, values, and emotional intelligence, in shaping sustainable leadership?

·         What role do followers and other actors involved in leadership play in the establishment of sustainable leadership approaches?

• What are the key challenges and opportunities for leaders seeking to foster a sustainable future?
• How does sustainable leadership intersect with HRM systems to promote accountability and transparency in leadership?

·         What role do CSR and ESG frameworks play when organisations seek to integrate sustainability into their strategies and practices?

This is not an exhaustive list.

Part II: Research on Sustainable Leadership

This part moves beyond theoretical frameworks to examine the tangible applications and impacts of sustainable leadership across diverse contexts. We invite empirical contributions – qualitative as well as quantitative – highlighting examples and specific characteristics of sustainable leadership in firms and organisations. Organising cutting-edge research through different levels of analysis - individual, organisational, and systemic - provides a holistic view of research on sustainable leadership's operation in practice. At the individual level, this part focuses on leadership competencies, psychological factors, ethical decision-making, and the influence of individuals on promoting sustainability initiatives. As such, it explores, for example, the characteristics, behaviours, and impact of individual sustainable leaders but also the impact of other actors. At the organisational level, it examines how organisations develop and implement sustainable strategies, build sustainable cultures, and measure their sustainability performance. At the systemic level, this part investigates the broader context in which sustainable leadership operates, including the role of government policies, industry collaborations, and societal norms.

Possible questions chapters could address are:

·         What are the key characteristics and competencies of effective, sustainable leaders at the individual level?

·         What features sustainable leadership as collaborative endeavour, which involves many actors.

·         How can organisations foster a culture of sustainability and support sustainable leadership practices?

·         What is the role of systemic factors, such as government policies and industry collaborations, in enabling and constraining sustainable leadership?

·         How can we measure the impact of sustainable leadership on environmental, social, and economic outcomes?

·         What are the emerging trends and future research directions on sustainable leadership?

This is not an exhaustive list.

Part III: Teaching and Learning Sustainable Leadership

This part focuses on equipping educators with the necessary tools and strategies to teach and foster sustainable leadership effectively within various educational settings. It offers practical guidance, innovative methodologies, and valuable resources for integrating sustainability principles into leadership development programmes and curricula. The chapters explore a range of pedagogical approaches tailored for teaching sustainable leadership, including experiential learning, case studies, simulations, and reflective exercises. Furthermore, this part explores the role of assessment in evaluating learning outcomes and providing feedback to students on their development as sustainable leaders. It also highlights the importance of building a community of practice among sustainable leadership educators, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Possible questions chapters could address are:

·         What kinds of interactive exercises and simulations can foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the context of sustainable leadership?

·         How can case studies be used to illustrate real-world examples of sustainable leadership challenges and successes?

·         What innovative assessment methods can be employed to evaluate student learning and provide effective feedback in sustainable leadership education?

·         What online resources and platforms can support collaborative learning and knowledge sharing among students and educators in the field of sustainable leadership?

·         How can educators adapt and tailor teaching materials to diverse learning styles and educational contexts?

This is not an exhaustive list.

Submission Guidelines

Abstract: Please submit a short abstract (up to 500 words) outlining your proposed chapter topic, key arguments, and potential contribution to the handbook.

Full Chapters: Selected contributors will be invited to submit full chapters of 6,000-8,000 words (including references, figures, and tables).

Timeline:

·         Abstract Submission Deadline: 1 June 2025

·         Invitation to Submit Full Chapter: 1 July 2025

·         Author Workshop: October 2025

·         Full Chapter Submission Deadline: 1 February 2026

·         Review Round 1: February-June 2026

·         Review Round 2: June-October 2026

·         Final Submission to Editors: 1 December 2026

·         Publication is planned in the second half of 2027.

Please submit your abstract electronically to: https://hsl.sdu.dk/ojs/index.php/hsl

Authors are responsible for securing any necessary permissions for copyrighted material. Detailed author guidelines will be provided to those invited to submit full chapters. Contributors will be asked to review at least one other chapter in the handbook. This peer-review process will help ensure the quality and coherence of the final publication.

We particularly encourage submissions from:

·         Scholars with expertise in sustainable leadership, management, ethics, and related fields.

·         Practitioners with experience in implementing sustainable leadership initiatives and a strong interest in leveraging this experience in an academic publication.

·         Educators who are passionate about the teaching and learning of sustainable leadership.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive publication reflecting the global nature of sustainable leadership.

Edward Elgar Publishing

Edward Elgar Publishing, a leading international publisher of academic books and journals, will publish this handbook. Edward Elgar's Handbooks are submitted for indexing to Google Scholar, the Scopus Citation Index, and the Clarivate Analytics' Book Citation Index, part of the Web of Science Core Collection.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and collaborating with you on this exciting project!

Best wishes,
Simon Jebsen (simonf@sam.sdu.dk), Sylvia Rohlfer, Martin Senderovitz, Abderrahman Hassi

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Simon Jebsen
Associate Professor
University of Southern Denmark
Sønderborg
+45 65501748
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