Abstract

Strategic partnership is a critical element of organizational management in ensuring effective governance and sustainable educational development, particularly in island schools in the state of Sabah, Malaysia, which face geographical isolation, limited resources, and restricted access to external support. This study aims to explore the leadership of school leaders in managing strategic partnerships. The study involved five informants comprising head teachers serving in island schools. The interview protocol was developed based on the Malaysian Education Quality Standard (MEQS Quality@ School) Standard 2: Organizational Management, Aspect 2.7: Strategic Partnerships. A qualitative interview-based approach was employed to collect data. The interview transcripts were analysed using ATLAS.ti software. The findings indicate that effective and efficient leadership in managing strategic partnerships ensures systematic organizational activities, empowerment of subordinates, the development of cohesive teams, and the creation of a harmonious working environment to achieve organizational goals and direction. Furthermore, this study provides valuable contributions to the education system, particularly in the development of management and leadership modules for island schools, serving as an important reference across all levels of education.