Leadership in higher education and societal transformation—Universities as catalyst for societal well-being

Kimete Canaj, Blerim Canaj, Shqipe Husaj, Hajrullah Latifi

Article ID: 10459
Vol 8, Issue 16, 2024

VIEWS - 1039 (Abstract)

Abstract


Leadership and the academic freedom of the Universities in a digitally changing world are the generators of innovation in society. This study is a qualitative and quantitative empirical research of the Leadership at the public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Kosovo, that examines their communication, authoritarian or liberal communication, and dominant perceptions and attitudes towards social, political, and financial strategies in HEI as a basis of social and economic wellbeing. The theory of research, as elaborated by Tight (2022), emphasizes the evolving nature of academic inquiry and the significance of context in shaping research practices. Waite (2013) highlights the pivotal role of communication strategies in determining the effectiveness of both democratic and authoritarian leadership styles. Effective communication in democratic leadership fosters transparency and collaboration, while in authoritarian leadership, it can be used to consolidate control and manage dissent The research was conducted at public and private HEI, through personal interviews and a structured questionnaire, which was carried out by the staff of higher management of HEI, academic staff, administrative staff, and students of the public and private Universities. The results demonstrated that academic and financial autonomy has a high impact on academic ethics and academic integrity and has a high impact on the increase of the economy and well-being in society, compared with the lack of academic and financial autonomy and interference of politics in the management of HEI which has an impact on lower quality and integrity of HEI in society. Leaders of Universities need to think about new leadership models more socially responsible and more ecologically sensible consumption oriented, from Society, to society for society.


Keywords


leadership in higher education institutions; HEI between democracy and autocracy; academic freedom and integrity at HEI; leadership methods; innovation in leadership

Full Text:

PDF


References

  1. Ahmad, S. T. Islam, M. Sadiq, A, Kaleem (2021): Promoting green behavior through ethical leadership: a model of green human resource management and environmental knowledge. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 42 No. 4, pp. 531- 547. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-01-2020-0024
  2. Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & Rumbley, L. E. (2009). Trends in global higher education: Tracking an academic revolution (Global Perspectives on Higher Education, Vol. 22). https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004406155
  3. Armache, J., Ismail, H., & Armache, G. D. (2020). The US university governance: Challenges and opportunities for the board of directors. Corporate Ownership & Control, 17(4), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv17i4art4
  4. Armstrong, M. (2012) Armstrong’s Handbook of Management and Leadership: Developing Effective People Skills for Better Leadership and Management, Kogan Page, London.
  5. Atzori, M. (2017). Blockchain technology and decentralized governance: Is the state still necessary? Journal of Governance and Regulation, 6(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.22495/jgr_v6_i1_p5
  6. Avolia,B.J., Gardner, W.L., Walumbwa, F.O., Lufthans, F. &May, D.R.(2004). Unlocking the mask: A look at the process by which authentic leaders impact …
  7. Böhmelt, T. (2021) Populism and environmental performance. Global Environment Polit. Pp.1-27. https://repository.essex.ac.uk/29708/3/GEP%20Accepted%20Document.pdf
  8. Bühlmann, F., Davoine, E., & Ravasi, C. (2018). European top management careers: A field-analytical approach. European Societies, 20(3), 453–477. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616696.2017.1371314
  9. Canaj, K. (2020). Language policy and language planning in Kosova. International Institute of Social and Economy Sciences, 8(2), 35–52. https://doi.org/10.20472/TE.2020.8.2.003
  10. Canaj, K. (2021). Gender equality policies and gender mindset in Kosovo. International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences, 10(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.52950/SS.2021.10.1.001
  11. Canaj, K. Nimani, A. Canaj, B. Spahia, D. (2022). Management and Internationalization of Research Strategies in Higher Education Institutions as a Basis of Economic Well-Being. https://doi.org/10.22495/cbsrv3i2siart3
  12. Daniëls, Ellen, Hodeghem, Annie, Dochy Filip (2019) A review on leadership and leadership development in educational settings. Educational Research Review. Volume 27, June 2019, pp.110-125 A review on leadership and leadership development in educational settings - ScienceDirect https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1747938X18300228?via%3Dihub
  13. Dewey, P., & Duff, S. (2009). Reason before passion: Faculty views on internationalisation in higher education. Higher Education, 58(4), 491–504. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-009-9207-z
  14. European Commission. (2019). Kosovo 2019 report. Retrieved from https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu /system/files/2019-05/20190529-kosovo-report.pdf
  15. European Commission. (2021). Kosovo 2021 report. Retrieved from https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu /kosovo-report-2021_en
  16. Findlay, A., King, R., Smith, F. M., Geddes, A., & Skeldon, R. (2012). World class? An investigation of globalisation, difference and international student mobility. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 31(1), 118–131. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5661.2011.00454.x
  17. Gashi, A. (2019). Membership of KAA in ENQA. Available online: https://www.enqa.eu/wp-content/uploads/Letter-ENQA-to-KAA_Sep-2019.pdf (accessed on 5 August 2024).
  18. Grove, H., Clouse, M., & Xu, T. (2019). Strategies for boards of directors to meet the challenges associated with AI, gentrification, and emerging technological advances. Corporate Ownership & Control, 17(1), 38–49. https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv17i1art4
  19. Hall, S., & Appleyard, L. (2011). Trans-local academic credentials and the (re)production of financial elites. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 9(2), 247–264. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2011.577177
  20. Herschberg, C., Benschop, Y., & van den Brink, M. (2018). Selecting early-career researchers: the influence of discourses of internationalisation and excellence on formal and applied selection criteria in academia. Higher Education, 76(5), 807–825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-018-0237-2
  21. Illeris, K. (2018). Contemporary theories of learning: Learning theorists … in their own words (2nd ed.). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315147277
  22. Jarvis, P. (2009). Learning to be a person in society: Learning to be me. In K. Illeris (Ed.), Contemporary theories of learning (pp. 21–34). Routledge. Retrieved from https://people.bath.ac.uk/edspd/Weblinks/MA_ULL/Resources/General/Illeris%202009%20Contemporary%20Theories%20of%20Learning.pdf
  23. Javed, M., Akhtar, M.W., Hussain, K. Junaid, M., Syed, F. (2021) Being true to oneself: the interplay of responsible leadership and authenticity on multi- level outcomes.
  24. Khan, S. R. (2011). Privilege: The making of an adolescent elite at St. Paul’s School. https://doi.org/10.1515 /9781400836222
  25. Khurana, R. (2007). From higher aims to hired hands: The social transformation of American business schools and the unfulfilled promise of management as a profession. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400830862
  26. Mitchell, D. E., & Nielsen, Y. S. (2012). Internationalization and globalization in higher education. In H. CuadraMontiel (Ed.), Globalization: Education and management agendas. https://doi.org/10.5772/48702
  27. Nerantzidis, M., Filos, J., & Lazarides, T. (2012). The puzzle of corporate governance definition(s): A content analysis. Corporate Board: Role, Duties and Composition, 8(2), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.22495/cbv8i2art2
  28. Pastore, P. (2018). Italian lesson about getting women on the board five years after the implementation of the gender quota law. Corporate Ownership & Control, 16(1–1), 185–202. https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv16i1c1art7
  29. Republic of Kosovo. (n.d.). Law on Higher Education. Available online: http://old.kuvendikosoves.org/common/docs/ligjet/Law%20on%20higher%20education.pdf (accessed on 2 April 2024).
  30. Sokoli, T. (2020). Student Protest on 1 October 1997. Available online: https://kosovotwopointzero.com/rektori-qe-nuk-hoqi-dore-nga-e-ardhmja/ (accessed on 6 September 2024).
  31. Tight, M. (2022), “Research into Leadership in Higher Education: A Systematic Review”, Blair, A., Evans, D. Hughes, C. and Tight, M. (Ed.) International Perspectives on Higher Education Research, Vol: 15). Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 5-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-362820220000015001
  32. Waite, A.M. (2013) Leadership’s influence on innovation and sustainability. Eur. J. Train. Dev., 38 (2013). Pp. 15-39, 10.1108/EJTD-09-2013-0094


DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd10459

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Kimete Canaj, Blerim Canaj, Shqipe Husaj, Hajrullah Latifi

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.