7 - The Academic Dean and the Challenges of Meeting Changing Expectations in a Competitive Higher Education Environment in Africa
Corresponding Author(s) : Alfred Otara
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 12 No. 1 (2014): Journal of Higher Education in Africa: Special Issue on Higher Education Leadership and Management
Abstract
This article seeks to provide guidelines for leadership decisions and prac- tices that university deans can follow to be effective in their institutions and be relevant in an increasingly competitive African milieu. The paper provides an overview of academic leadership by faculty deans and assesses the degree to which they demonstrate leadership in addressing contempo- rary challenges and expectations. The paper shows how academic leaders must hold and convey ideas and knowledge that could shape managerial thought and practice. It also emphasizes that they must develop a human resource network inside and outside their departments and university and at levels – be they local, national, and international. Academic leadership needs to have a structured approach to faculty and staff promotion and development, and it should be placed on a priority list. Deans need to use technology and communication channels effectively to improve access to knowledge. The educational programmes must be dynamic and streamlined to meet the demands of the job market as well as the aspirations of all the stakeholders, including the external stakeholders.
Keywords
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- Abu-Tineh, A. M., Khasawneh, S. A., & Omary, A., 2009, ‘Kouzes and Posner’s Transformational Leadership Model in Practice: The Case of Jordanian Schools’, Journal of Leadership Education,Vol. 7, Issue 3.
- Bandura, A., 1993, ‘Perceived Self-Efficacy in Cognitive Development and Func- tioning’, Educational Psychologist, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 117-148.
- Bennis, W., 1985, ‘The Strategies for Taking Charge’. Retrieved from www. Athens. rsc.uchicago.edu.2012.
- Barr, R. B. & Tagg, J., 1995, ‘From Teaching to Learning: A New Paradigm for Un- dergraduate Education’, Change, Vol. 27, No. 6, pp. 12-55.
- Bass, B. M., 1990, ‘From Transactional to Transformational Leadership: Learning to Sharethe Vision’. Organizational Dynamics, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 19-31.
- Bikmoradi, et al., 2008, ‘Requirements for Effective Academic Leadership in Iran: A Nominal Group Technique Exercise’. Retrieved from http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/2.0),December 2012.
- Brown, S. with Denton, S., 2009, ‘Leading the University beyond Bureaucracy’, in S. Denton and S. Brown, eds, Beyond Bureaucracy: Managing the University Year, London: Routledge.
- Brown, S., 2011, ‘Bringing about Positive Change in the Higher Education Student Experience: A Case Study’,Quality Assurance in Education, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp.195-207.
- Bulle , J. L., 2010, The Essential College Professor: A Practical Guide to an Academic Career. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
- Buller, J.,(011, ‘Promoting Research while Advancing Instruction’, Part 1. Academic Leader, Vol.27, No.1, pp. 3,7.
- Chu, D., 2006, The Department Chair Primer: Leading and Managing Academic Departments. Bolton, Mass.: Anker.
- Cipriano, R. E., 2012, ‘Faculty Collegiality as a Synergistic Agent’. Retrieved from www.facultyfocus.com/topic/fr Collis, D., 1999, ‘When Industries Change: Scenarios for Higher Education’. Retrieved from www.cdn.educause.edu 2012
- Diamond, M. A., 2000, Academic Leadership: Turning Vision into Reality, London: The Ernst and Young Foundation.
- Vassiliou, A. & McAleese, M., 2012, ‘European Commission – Bringing Teaching in from the Cold’, University World News, No. 241.
- Drucker, P., 2011, People and Performance. New York: Routledge.
- Gallos, J. V., 2011, ‘The Dean’s Squeeze: The Myths and Realities of Academic Leadership in the Middle’, Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, Vol. 18: August, pp. 293-307.
- Gmelch, W. H., Wolverton, M., & Marvin, l., 1999, ‘The Academic Dean: An Imperiled Species Searching for Balance’, Research in Higher Education, Vol. 40, No.6.
- Goddard, R. & Skrla, L., 2006, ‘The Influence of School Composition on Teacher Perceptions.
- of Collective Efficacy’, Educational Administration Quarterly, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp.216-235.
- Jenkins, A., Zetter, R., and Healey, M. J., 2007, Linking Teaching and Research in Disciplines and Departments. Heslington: Higher Educational Academy.Avai- lable at www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/LinkingTeachingAndRe- search_April07.pdf. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- Kelly, R., 2012, ‘Implementing High-Impact Learning Across the Institution. Academic Leader, Vol.27, No. 11, pp. 7-8.
- Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. J., 2002, Leadership Challenges (3rd ed.), San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Kuh, G., Kinzie, J.,Schuh, J. &, Whitt, E., 2005,. Student Success in College Creating Conditions that Matter, Washington: Jossey-Bass.
- Maslen, G., 2012, ‘Universities Face Uncertain Future without Radical Overhaul’, University World News, No 245.
- Millar, E., 2012, ‘Universities Need Private Sector to Help Prepare Students for Work, University World News, No. 248.
- Osborn, A., 2012 ‘Rethinking Education’ Calls for More Business Focus’,University World News,No.249.
- Ross, J. A. & Gray, P., 2006,’ Transformational Leadership and Teacher Commitment to Organizational
- Values: The Mediating Effects of Collective Teacher Efficacy’, School Effectiveness and School Improvement, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp.179-199.
- Rowley. J. & Sherman, H., 2003, ‘The Special Challenges Of Academic Leadership’, Management Decision, Vol. 41, No. 10, pp.1058 – 1063 Sharma, 2012, ‘Universities Must Better Prepare Young People For Labourmarket’,
- University World News, No. 250.
- Sawahel, W., 2012, ‘Quality Assurance on the rise, But More Action Needed – Report’, University World News, No. 245.
- Waters, M., 2012, ‘Leadership Succession: How New Deans Take Charge and Learn the Job’, University World News, No.243.
- Wolverton, M., & Gmelch, Walter H., 2002, ‘Adapted from College Deans: Learning from Within’, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, 1-5 April, Oryx/Greenwood Press.
References
Abu-Tineh, A. M., Khasawneh, S. A., & Omary, A., 2009, ‘Kouzes and Posner’s Transformational Leadership Model in Practice: The Case of Jordanian Schools’, Journal of Leadership Education,Vol. 7, Issue 3.
Bandura, A., 1993, ‘Perceived Self-Efficacy in Cognitive Development and Func- tioning’, Educational Psychologist, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 117-148.
Bennis, W., 1985, ‘The Strategies for Taking Charge’. Retrieved from www. Athens. rsc.uchicago.edu.2012.
Barr, R. B. & Tagg, J., 1995, ‘From Teaching to Learning: A New Paradigm for Un- dergraduate Education’, Change, Vol. 27, No. 6, pp. 12-55.
Bass, B. M., 1990, ‘From Transactional to Transformational Leadership: Learning to Sharethe Vision’. Organizational Dynamics, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 19-31.
Bikmoradi, et al., 2008, ‘Requirements for Effective Academic Leadership in Iran: A Nominal Group Technique Exercise’. Retrieved from http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/2.0),December 2012.
Brown, S. with Denton, S., 2009, ‘Leading the University beyond Bureaucracy’, in S. Denton and S. Brown, eds, Beyond Bureaucracy: Managing the University Year, London: Routledge.
Brown, S., 2011, ‘Bringing about Positive Change in the Higher Education Student Experience: A Case Study’,Quality Assurance in Education, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp.195-207.
Bulle , J. L., 2010, The Essential College Professor: A Practical Guide to an Academic Career. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Buller, J.,(011, ‘Promoting Research while Advancing Instruction’, Part 1. Academic Leader, Vol.27, No.1, pp. 3,7.
Chu, D., 2006, The Department Chair Primer: Leading and Managing Academic Departments. Bolton, Mass.: Anker.
Cipriano, R. E., 2012, ‘Faculty Collegiality as a Synergistic Agent’. Retrieved from www.facultyfocus.com/topic/fr Collis, D., 1999, ‘When Industries Change: Scenarios for Higher Education’. Retrieved from www.cdn.educause.edu 2012
Diamond, M. A., 2000, Academic Leadership: Turning Vision into Reality, London: The Ernst and Young Foundation.
Vassiliou, A. & McAleese, M., 2012, ‘European Commission – Bringing Teaching in from the Cold’, University World News, No. 241.
Drucker, P., 2011, People and Performance. New York: Routledge.
Gallos, J. V., 2011, ‘The Dean’s Squeeze: The Myths and Realities of Academic Leadership in the Middle’, Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, Vol. 18: August, pp. 293-307.
Gmelch, W. H., Wolverton, M., & Marvin, l., 1999, ‘The Academic Dean: An Imperiled Species Searching for Balance’, Research in Higher Education, Vol. 40, No.6.
Goddard, R. & Skrla, L., 2006, ‘The Influence of School Composition on Teacher Perceptions.
of Collective Efficacy’, Educational Administration Quarterly, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp.216-235.
Jenkins, A., Zetter, R., and Healey, M. J., 2007, Linking Teaching and Research in Disciplines and Departments. Heslington: Higher Educational Academy.Avai- lable at www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/LinkingTeachingAndRe- search_April07.pdf. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
Kelly, R., 2012, ‘Implementing High-Impact Learning Across the Institution. Academic Leader, Vol.27, No. 11, pp. 7-8.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. J., 2002, Leadership Challenges (3rd ed.), San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Kuh, G., Kinzie, J.,Schuh, J. &, Whitt, E., 2005,. Student Success in College Creating Conditions that Matter, Washington: Jossey-Bass.
Maslen, G., 2012, ‘Universities Face Uncertain Future without Radical Overhaul’, University World News, No 245.
Millar, E., 2012, ‘Universities Need Private Sector to Help Prepare Students for Work, University World News, No. 248.
Osborn, A., 2012 ‘Rethinking Education’ Calls for More Business Focus’,University World News,No.249.
Ross, J. A. & Gray, P., 2006,’ Transformational Leadership and Teacher Commitment to Organizational
Values: The Mediating Effects of Collective Teacher Efficacy’, School Effectiveness and School Improvement, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp.179-199.
Rowley. J. & Sherman, H., 2003, ‘The Special Challenges Of Academic Leadership’, Management Decision, Vol. 41, No. 10, pp.1058 – 1063 Sharma, 2012, ‘Universities Must Better Prepare Young People For Labourmarket’,
University World News, No. 250.
Sawahel, W., 2012, ‘Quality Assurance on the rise, But More Action Needed – Report’, University World News, No. 245.
Waters, M., 2012, ‘Leadership Succession: How New Deans Take Charge and Learn the Job’, University World News, No.243.
Wolverton, M., & Gmelch, Walter H., 2002, ‘Adapted from College Deans: Learning from Within’, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, 1-5 April, Oryx/Greenwood Press.