Abstract:
This study aims to (1) synthesize digital culture leadership and examine international education standards, (2) analyze the components of digital culture leadership among personnel in World-Class standard schools, (3) develop indicators of digital culture leadership for personnel in World-Class standard schools, and (4) explore approaches to promoting digital culture leadership among personnel in World-Class standard schools.
The research sample consisted of 461 school administrators, teachers, and personnel from international standard schools. Descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to analyze the basic data. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to examine the alignment of the model with empirical data, develop leadership indicators, and analyze content related to strategies for promoting digital culture leadership. The research findings were as follows:
1. Synthesis of digital culture leadership and international education standards. The synthesis revealed seven key factors: (1) strategic leadership, (2) communication and collaboration, (3) data-driven decision-making, (4) fostering digital culture, (5) digital competence and continuous learning, (6) technology and innovation, and (7) ethics, values, and digital citizenship. The overall mean scores for all aspects were at the highest level, with 82 observed variables.
2. Analysis of digital culture leadership component. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) showed that the variables were highly correlated and well-suited for analysis. The extracted components were grouped into five dimensions comprising 66 observed variables, ranked by weight as follows: (1) Technology and Innovation, (2) Fostering Digital Culture, (3) Strategic Leadership, (4) Digital Competence and Learning, and (5) Communication and Collaboration. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) validated the digital culture leadership model for personnel in World-Class standard schools. The final model consisted of five dimensions: strategic leadership, communication and collaboration, fostering digital culture, digital competence and learning, and technology and innovation, with a total of 19 observed variables. The model demonstrated a strong fit with empirical data (Chi-square = 122.862, df = 108.0, Sig. = 0.156, CMIN/df = 1.138, CFI = 0.998, NFI = 0.984, GFI = 0.972, AGFI = 0.951, IFI = 0.998, RMSEA = 0.017, RMR = 0.01), confirming its validity as a framework for leadership development.
3. Development of digital culture leadership indicators. The developed indicators covered five dimensions, with an overall suitability rating at the highest level (𝑥̅ = 4.76, 𝑆. 𝐷. = 0.27), detailed as follows: (1) Strategic Leadership and Governance (𝑥̅ = 4.90, 𝑆. 𝐷. = 0.71), (2) Communication and Collaboration 𝑥̅ = 4.80, 𝑆. 𝐷. = 0.22), (3) Fostering Digital Culture 𝑥̅= 4.71, 𝑆. 𝐷. = 0.31), (4) Building Digital Competence and Continuous Learning (𝑥̅ = 4.71, 𝑆. 𝐷. = 0.39), and (5) Integration of Technology and Innovation in Education (𝑥̅ = 4.67, 𝑆. 𝐷. = 0.44). The reliability of the indicators ranged from 0.875 to 0.948 (CR), while the average variance extracted (AVE) was between 0.638 and 0.820, demonstrating that the indicators were of high quality and could effectively assess digital culture leadership.
4. Strategies for promoting digital culture leadership. A comparative study of strategies from Thailand and New Zealand revealed that digital technology plays a crucial role in education management, student learning, and digital citizenship development. Key strategies include developing digital policies and strategies in schools, integrating digital learning into curricula, enhancing teachers and personnels digital skills, leveraging technology for communication and collaboration, and fostering digital ethics within schools. The findings highlight that digital culture leadership is essential for developing World-Class standard schools. The validated factor model and high-quality indicators provide a practical framework for assessment and leadership development. Additionally, insights from international practices can be adapted to the Thai context to align schools with international education standards.