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University Governance Networks Driving Immersive Education Through Sustainable Digital Institutional Transformation



Author(s)

Yazmin Sanchez Alvarez, Javier Carreón Guillén, Cruz Garcia Lirios, Julio E Crespo, Arturo Sánchez Sánchez, Pablo Álamo Hernández, Eva Isabel Lombana Paz, Albeiro Beltrán Díaz, Jorge E. Chaparro Medina

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DOI:10.17265/2328-2185/2026.03.005

National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico University of Health, Mexico City, Mexico University of Los Lagos, Osorno City, Chile Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, México Cetys Universidad - Graduate School of Business Francisco de Paula Santander University Technological Units of Santander, Colombia Unified National Corporation of Higher Education CUN, Colombia

Higher education institutions increasingly face the challenge of integrating immersive educational environments while simultaneously advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through effective governance systems. This study proposes and evaluates a CytoScape network model that explains the structural relationships among university governance, strategic leadership, institutional participation, technological integration, immersive learning, Sustainable Development Goal integration, and network connectivity. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and explanatory research design was adopted to examine how governance mechanisms influence organizational transformation and sustainable educational innovation. The conceptual framework integrates complexity science, institutional governance, organizational learning, stakeholder collaboration, digital transformation, and network analysis into a unified relational perspective. Latent constructs were operationalized using reflective indicators representing governance quality, collaborative decision-making, technological infrastructure, digital competence, sustainability-oriented practices, organizational cohesion, and structural connectivity. Structural relationships were estimated through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and subsequently represented as an institutional interaction network using CytoScape. The findings demonstrate that university governance constitutes the principal organizational driver of strategic leadership and institutional participation, which collectively strengthen technological integration and immersive learning. Immersive educational environments significantly contribute to Sustainable Development Goal implementation, while sustainability initiatives enhance institutional network connectivity and organizational cohesion. The resulting network exhibits high structural integration, influential governance hubs, efficient communication pathways, and strong collaborative interactions that facilitate institutional resilience and continuous digital transformation. The proposed CytoScape framework extends conventional governance research by incorporating network topology into structural analysis, allowing the identification of central actors, communication bridges, and organizational communities that support immersive education. The study provides theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions for higher education institutions seeking to strengthen governance systems capable of promoting sustainable digital innovation, organizational adaptability, educational excellence, and long-term institutional development.

university governance, immersive learning, sustainable development, network connectivity, CytoScape