Academic Leadership: A Qualitative Approach in Higher Education

Abstract

Academic institution is a broad term and includes all institutions that provide some form of academic instruction. The scope of this paper is limited to higher education institutions only. In order to remain viable and competitive, Higher Education must continually invest in their faculty and staff keeping in mind the students' development.

Academic leadership is a special case of general leadership in as much as it refers to leadership in an academic setting or institutions. Academic institutions present a different setting than private or public sector organizations. Private organizations are guided solely by considerations of maximizing shareholder value. The government agencies and public sector organizations are guided by considerations of maximizing the value to stakeholders, which includes community at large. In academic institutions, maximizing stakeholder value refers to maximizing value to stakeholders such as students, staff, community, and funding agencies. Thus, the stakeholders in academic institutions are more diverse. These special features of academic institutions pose a different set of challenge to leadership. Effective academic leadership in higher education is a function of several factors or characteristics. These include:  leadership in teaching, leadership in research, strategic vision and networking, collaborative and motivational leadership, fair and efficient management, development and recognition of performance and interpersonal skills. Faculties should rise to the challenge of valuing their educational activities alongside their research, innovation and enterprise, and to support and develop all staff, such that they will inspire our students, give them a distinctive experience and nurture their academic and personal development. This is what quality in higher education is -- It means the educational process is such that it ensures students achieve their goals and thereby satisfies the needs of the society and help in national development.