Educational environments are increasingly confronted with rapid technological acceleration, ecosystem complexities, and a growing demand for innovation. Using the meta-synthesis approach. Given the fragmentation and inconsistency of previous studies, this research sought to systematically integrate findings to identify and explain the fundamental dimensions and components of this leadership model. The research population comprised all qualitative studies published on entrepreneurial leadership in education between 2015 and 2025 in both national and international databases. Out of 398 identified studies, a total of 32 met the inclusion and quality criteria and were analyzed using the seven-step model of Sandelowski and Barroso. The coding process resulted in 275 open codes, 22 axial themes, and six overarching dimensions. Findings revealed that entrepreneurial leadership in education is a multilevel and cyclical phenomenon that begins with the leader’s personal and psychological attributes, manifests in managerial and professional competencies, and becomes institutionalized through transformational and future-oriented leadership, organizational empowerment, a culture of learning, and educational networking. The proposed model provides both a theoretical framework and a practical guideline for educational policymakers and managers in developing entrepreneurial leadership capacities. Overall, the results highlight the need to reconsider leadership development policies and to strengthen innovative and opportunity-oriented competencies among school and university leaders.
Moradi, A., Moeinikia, M., Zahed-Babelan, A., & Akbari, T. (2026). Designing a Framework for Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education Using a Meta-Synthesis Approach. Education and Management of Entrepreneurship, 5(1), 111-140. doi: 10.22126/eme.2026.13169.1248
MLA
Ali Moradi; Mahdi Moeinikia; Adel Zahed-Babelan; Taghi Akbari. "Designing a Framework for Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education Using a Meta-Synthesis Approach". Education and Management of Entrepreneurship, 5, 1, 2026, 111-140. doi: 10.22126/eme.2026.13169.1248
HARVARD
Moradi, A., Moeinikia, M., Zahed-Babelan, A., Akbari, T. (2026). 'Designing a Framework for Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education Using a Meta-Synthesis Approach', Education and Management of Entrepreneurship, 5(1), pp. 111-140. doi: 10.22126/eme.2026.13169.1248
VANCOUVER
Moradi, A., Moeinikia, M., Zahed-Babelan, A., Akbari, T. Designing a Framework for Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education Using a Meta-Synthesis Approach. Education and Management of Entrepreneurship, 2026; 5(1): 111-140. doi: 10.22126/eme.2026.13169.1248
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