Leadership Competencies and Institutional Efficacy in Selected Colleges/Universities in China: Towards Leadership Development Plan

Abstract

Over the years, university administrator’s aim is to polish a wide-ranging set of paramount practices that exemplary leaders and teachers follow in normal times. However the onset of the current pandemic seems to be a vital test for college and university administrators across the world. While some have augmented to the circumstance, others are struggling to manage this crisis of unprecedented proportions. The benefits that can be derived by such administrators and teachers will surely pave the way for the realization of set goals and priorities in the institution. This study will be undertaken to assess the strategic leadership competencies of the administrators of three universities and two colleges in Guangdong province of China; namely Huizhou University, Guangzhou University, Shaoguan University, Huizhou Economic Vocational and Technical College and Guangdong Peizheng College. Of the five universities, three are public and two are private and to measure the efficacy of the said universities and colleges in the context of the challenges and demands of pandemic in the 21st century. Furthermore, this research focused particularly on variables affecting the leadership competence of the administrators in terms of professional technical skills; human personal skills; strategic management planning; leadership/fellowship skills; communication skills; and decision-making skills. The institutional efficacy of the universities and colleges was discussed in terms of the following: strategy, role clarity, on human resource and continuous improvement/ innovation.