5 -  The Level of Academic and Professional Competencies Required by Middle-level Academics to Serve in African Universities

Chika Eucharia Eze

doi:10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6231

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023): Journal of Higher Education in Africa

Issue Published : May 4, 2026

5 - The Level of Academic and Professional Competencies Required by Middle-level Academics to Serve in African Universities

https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6231

Chika Eucharia Eze

Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, Veritas University Abuja, Nigeria

Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Article Published : May 4, 2026

Abstract

Using the lens of situational leadership theory, this article interrogates if early career academics serving in leadership positions, particularly those who have worked in a university for less than seven years, possess the task-relevant competencies that are required for university leadership The study assessed academics’ competency levels by examining their pedagogical capabilities, their research and publication output, and their proficiency in integrating ICT tools into teaching and learning. The research adopted a qualitative design, using narrative nterviews and focus group discussion (FGD) to sample ten early-career aders in a private university in Nigeria. The findings indicated that participants had weak research and publication records and relied predominantly on traditional lecture-based pedagogy, which limited opportunities for innovative and participatory teaching and learning. However, the participants’ engagement of ICT was apt and promising. Based on their narratives it is recommended that some restrictions be applied to the appointment of early-career scholars as middle-level academic leaders, on the grounds that they need adequate time to develop their academic and professional competencies before taking up leadership demands.

Keywords

Middle-level academic leaders early-career academics academic and professional competencies university leadership and governance university-set goals/mandate

Chika Eucharia Eze. (2026). 5 - The Level of Academic and Professional Competencies Required by Middle-level Academics to Serve in African Universities. Journal of Higher Education in Africa, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6231

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References

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Daher, M., Carré, D., Jaramillo, A., Olivares, H., and Tomicic, A., 2017, Experience And Meaning in Qualitative Research: A Conceptual Review And A Method-ological Device Proposal, Forum: Qualitative Social Research Sozialforschung, Vol. 18, No. 3, Art. 9 (http://dx.doi.org/10.17169/fqs-18.3.2696).
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Hermans, H. J. M. and Hermans-Konokpa, A., 2010, Dialogical Self Theory: Positioning and Count-er-Positioning in A Globalizing Society, New York: Cambridge University Press.
Heron, B., 2005, Self-Reflection in Critical Social Work Practice: Subjectivity and The Possibilities of Resistance, Reflective Practice, Vol. 6, pp. 341–351 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14623940500220095).
Hersey, P., and Blanchard, K. H., 1977, Management of Organizational Behavior: Utilizing Human Resources, 3rd ed., Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Hersey, P., and Blanchard, K. H., 2006, Leader Effectiveness and Adaptability Description (LEAD), Binghamton, NY: Center for Leadership Studies.
Isibor, E., Kanmodi, K., Adebayo, O., Olaopa, O., Igbokwe, M., Adufe, I., … Kpuduwei, S. P. K., Efuntoye, O., Egwu, O., Ogunsuji, O., Grillo, E. O. and Rereloluwa, B., 2020, Exploring Issues and Challenges of Leadership among Early Career Doctors in Nigeria Using a Mixed-Method Approach: CHARTING Study, European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 441–454 (DOI:10.3390/ejihpe10010033).
Kenton, W., 2019, Hersey-Blanchard Model, Investopedia, updated 28 September 2020 (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hersey-and-blanchard-model.asp).
Landell, M. P., 1991, Governance and External Factors, in Proceedings of the World Bank Annual Conference on Development Economics, Washington DC: World Bank.
Lincoln, Y. S., and Guba, E. G.,1985, Naturalistic Inquiry, Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
Mapp, W., 2008, Leadership Competencies and Their Development for Commu-nity College Administrators, doctoral dissertation in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, Walden University.
McAdams, D. P., 2001, The Psychology of Life Stories, Review of General Psychology, Vol. 5, pp. 100–122 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1080-2680.5.2.100).
Mohajan, H., 2018, Qualitative Research Methodology in Social Sciences and Related Subjects, Munich Personal RePEc Archive (MPRA paper no. 85654) (https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/85654/).
Muriisa, K. R., 2010, It is Not All About Money: Financial Governance and Research in Public Universities in Uganda, in Berhanu, K., Halvorsen, T. and Mwiandi, M., eds, Shaping Research Universities in the Nile Basin Countries, Kampala: Fountain Publishers.
Muriisa, K. R., 2013a, The Quantity-Quality Balance: Reforms in University Educa-tion in Uganda, in Chanie, P. and Mihyo, P. B., eds, Thirty Years of Public Sector Reforms in Africa: Selected Country Experiences, Kampala: Fountain Publishers.
Muriisa, K. R., 2013b, Rethinking the Role of Universities in Africa: Leadership as the Missing Link in Explaining University Performance in Uganda, Journal of Higher Education in Africa/ Revue de l’Enseignement Supérieur en Afrique, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 69–92.
Mwiandi, C. M., 2010, University ‘Third Mission’–Service: A Case of University of Nairobi, in Berhanu, K., Halvorsen, T. and Mwiandi, M., eds, Shaping Research Universities in the Nile Basin Countries, Kampala: Fountain Publishers.
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), 2007-2012 Research Reports (https://nitda.org).
National Universities Commission (NUC), 2017, Nigerian University System Sta-tistical Digest 2017, Abuja: National Universities Commission (https://www.nuc.edu.ng/nuc-statistical-digest-2017/).
Nsamenang, A. B., 1992, Human Development in Cultural Context: A Third World Perspective, Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Nsamenang, A. B., and Tchomber, T. M. S., 2011, Handbook of African Education Theories and Practices: A Generative Teacher Education Curriculum, Bamenda, Cameroon: Human Development Resource Center (HDRC).
Nwaobi, G. C., 2000, The Knowledge Economics: Trends and Perspectives, Lagos: Goal Communications.
Nwoye, A., 2013, What is African Psychology the Psychology Of?, Inaugural lecture presented at University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 28 October.
Ojudu, S. N., 2012, Leadership and the Challenges of Higher Education in Nigeria, Lecture at the fifth Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (SSANU FUNAA), 31October.
Okebukola, P. A., and Fonteyne, B., 2015, Developing a Pan-African Quality Assurance and Accreditation Framework, Report final draft for AUC/EU approval, Africa and Europe in Partnership: 2 Visions, 1 Union (https://www.academia.edu/32769640/DEVELOPING_A_PAN_AFRICAN_QUALITY_ASSURANCE_AND_ACCREDITATION_FRAMEWORK_Report_Final_Draft_ for_AUC_EC_approval).
Omotosho, B. J., 2019, Junior Academics within Middle Level Academic Leadership in Emerging Universities in Nigeria, Journal of Higher Education in Africa/ Revue de l’Enseignement Supérieur en Afrique, Vol. 17, No. 1–2, pp. 83–94.
Riessman, C. K., 2008, Narrative Method for Human Sciences, Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications Inc.
Salmi, J., 2009, Key Characteristics of World-Class Universities, in The Challenge of Establishing World-Class Universities, Washington DC: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank (https://openknowledge. worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/2600/476100PUB0Univ101Official-0Use0Only1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y).
Seale, O., 2019, Towards Integrated Academic Leadership Development in African Universities: Context, Capacity and Capital, CODESRIA 2019 Institute training programme, University of Ghana, Legon.
Townsend, B. K., and Bassoppo-Moyo, S., 1997, The Effective Community College Academic Administrator: Necessary Competencies and Attitudes, Community College Review, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 41–57 (https://doi.org/10.1177/009155219702500204).
World Education News and Reviews (WENR), 2019, Education in Ghana (https:// wenr.wes.org/2019/04/education-in-ghana).

References

Agu, A. O., 2015, Education, Technology, and Universalizing Quality Outcomes, in Adeoye, B. F., Innovative Applications of Educational Technology Tools in Teaching and Learning, Bloomington, IN: Trafford Publishing, pp. 20–58.

Aniagolu, E., 2019, Understanding Research Methods and Applications, Two-day workshop given to lecturers at Veritas University, Abuja, 21–22 March.

Archibong, I. A., and Effiom, D. O., 2009, ICT in University Education: Usage and Challenges among Academic Staff, African Research Review, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 404–414.

Assie-Lumumba, T., 2006, Higher Education in Africa, Crises, Reforms and Transfor-mation, Dakar: CODESRIA.

Association of African Universities, 2009, Abuja Declaration on Sustainable Devel-opment in Africa: The Role of Higher Education (https://aau.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2018/04/abuja_declaration_on_sustainable_development.pdf ).

Ayee, J. R. A., 2014, Academic Leadership in Africa, in Jallow, B., ed., Leadership in Post-Colonial Africa: Trends Transformed by Independence, Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 237–267.

Ayitogo, N., 2021, FEC Approves 20 New Universities, Premium Times, 3 February (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/440434-fec-approves-20-new-private-universities-full-list.html).

Berhanu, K., Halvorsen, T., and Mwiandi, M., Shaping Research Universities in the Nile Basin Countries, Kampala: Fountain Publishers.

Bisbee, D. C., and Miller, M. T., 2006, A Survey of the Literature Related to

Executive Succession in Land Grant Universities, ERIC database (http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED491565.pdf). Accessed 25 June 2019.

Blair, J., 2000, Schools of Education Tracking Down Big Money, Education Week No.22.

Boddy, R. C., 2016, Sample Size For Qualitative Research, Qualitative Market Research, Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 426–432 (DOI:10.1108/QMR-06-2016-0053).

Bosanquet, A., Mailey, A., Matthews, K. E., and Lodge, J. M., 2017, Redefining ‘Early Career’ in Academia: A Collective Narrative Approach, Higher Education Research and Development, Vol. 36, No. 5 (https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2016.163934).

Clarke, V. and Braun, V., 2017, Thematic Analysis, The Journal of Positive Psychology, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 297–298 (DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2016.1262613).

CODESRIA, 2019, Higher Education Policy Initiative (HEPI): Call for Laureates, Resource Persons and Institute Director (https://www.codesria.org/spip.php?ar-ticle2906&lang=en).

Crossley, M. L., 2000, Introducing Narrative Psychology: Self, Trauma and Construction of Meaning, Buckingham, UK: Open University Press.

Daher, M., Carré, D., Jaramillo, A., Olivares, H., and Tomicic, A., 2017, Experience And Meaning in Qualitative Research: A Conceptual Review And A Method-ological Device Proposal, Forum: Qualitative Social Research Sozialforschung, Vol. 18, No. 3, Art. 9 (http://dx.doi.org/10.17169/fqs-18.3.2696).

Elham, S., Abu, D. S., Ismi, A. I., Bahaman, A. S., and Jamilah, O., 2011, Com-petencies, Roles and Effective Academic Leadership in World Class University, International Journal of Business Administration, Vol. 2, No. 1 (https://doi. org/10.5430/ijba.v2n1p44).

Etim, J. S., 2009, University Education in Nigeria: Growth, Manpower Develop-ment, Trends and Issues, in James, V. and Etim, J. S., eds., Educational Reform in Africa: Essays on Curriculum, Libraries, Counseling and Grade Levels, Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press.

Fredua-Kwarteng, E. and Ofosu, S. K., 2018, Improving the Quality of University Education in Africa, University World News, 6 March (https://www.university-worldnews.com/post.php?story=20180306124842675).

Garwe, E. C., 2014, The Effect of Institutional Leadership on Quality of Higher Education Provision, Research in Higher Education Journal, Vol. 22, pp. 1–10.

Gmelch, W. H., and Buller, J. L., 2015, Building Academic Leadership Capacity: A Guide to Best Practices, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Hermans, H. J. M. and Hermans-Konokpa, A., 2010, Dialogical Self Theory: Positioning and Count-er-Positioning in A Globalizing Society, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Heron, B., 2005, Self-Reflection in Critical Social Work Practice: Subjectivity and The Possibilities of Resistance, Reflective Practice, Vol. 6, pp. 341–351 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14623940500220095).

Hersey, P., and Blanchard, K. H., 1977, Management of Organizational Behavior: Utilizing Human Resources, 3rd ed., Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Hersey, P., and Blanchard, K. H., 2006, Leader Effectiveness and Adaptability Description (LEAD), Binghamton, NY: Center for Leadership Studies.

Isibor, E., Kanmodi, K., Adebayo, O., Olaopa, O., Igbokwe, M., Adufe, I., … Kpuduwei, S. P. K., Efuntoye, O., Egwu, O., Ogunsuji, O., Grillo, E. O. and Rereloluwa, B., 2020, Exploring Issues and Challenges of Leadership among Early Career Doctors in Nigeria Using a Mixed-Method Approach: CHARTING Study, European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 441–454 (DOI:10.3390/ejihpe10010033).

Kenton, W., 2019, Hersey-Blanchard Model, Investopedia, updated 28 September 2020 (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hersey-and-blanchard-model.asp).

Landell, M. P., 1991, Governance and External Factors, in Proceedings of the World Bank Annual Conference on Development Economics, Washington DC: World Bank.

Lincoln, Y. S., and Guba, E. G.,1985, Naturalistic Inquiry, Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

Mapp, W., 2008, Leadership Competencies and Their Development for Commu-nity College Administrators, doctoral dissertation in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, Walden University.

McAdams, D. P., 2001, The Psychology of Life Stories, Review of General Psychology, Vol. 5, pp. 100–122 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1080-2680.5.2.100).

Mohajan, H., 2018, Qualitative Research Methodology in Social Sciences and Related Subjects, Munich Personal RePEc Archive (MPRA paper no. 85654) (https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/85654/).

Muriisa, K. R., 2010, It is Not All About Money: Financial Governance and Research in Public Universities in Uganda, in Berhanu, K., Halvorsen, T. and Mwiandi, M., eds, Shaping Research Universities in the Nile Basin Countries, Kampala: Fountain Publishers.

Muriisa, K. R., 2013a, The Quantity-Quality Balance: Reforms in University Educa-tion in Uganda, in Chanie, P. and Mihyo, P. B., eds, Thirty Years of Public Sector Reforms in Africa: Selected Country Experiences, Kampala: Fountain Publishers.

Muriisa, K. R., 2013b, Rethinking the Role of Universities in Africa: Leadership as the Missing Link in Explaining University Performance in Uganda, Journal of Higher Education in Africa/ Revue de l’Enseignement Supérieur en Afrique, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 69–92.

Mwiandi, C. M., 2010, University ‘Third Mission’–Service: A Case of University of Nairobi, in Berhanu, K., Halvorsen, T. and Mwiandi, M., eds, Shaping Research Universities in the Nile Basin Countries, Kampala: Fountain Publishers.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), 2007-2012 Research Reports (https://nitda.org).

National Universities Commission (NUC), 2017, Nigerian University System Sta-tistical Digest 2017, Abuja: National Universities Commission (https://www.nuc.edu.ng/nuc-statistical-digest-2017/).

Nsamenang, A. B., 1992, Human Development in Cultural Context: A Third World Perspective, Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

Nsamenang, A. B., and Tchomber, T. M. S., 2011, Handbook of African Education Theories and Practices: A Generative Teacher Education Curriculum, Bamenda, Cameroon: Human Development Resource Center (HDRC).

Nwaobi, G. C., 2000, The Knowledge Economics: Trends and Perspectives, Lagos: Goal Communications.

Nwoye, A., 2013, What is African Psychology the Psychology Of?, Inaugural lecture presented at University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 28 October.

Ojudu, S. N., 2012, Leadership and the Challenges of Higher Education in Nigeria, Lecture at the fifth Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (SSANU FUNAA), 31October.

Okebukola, P. A., and Fonteyne, B., 2015, Developing a Pan-African Quality Assurance and Accreditation Framework, Report final draft for AUC/EU approval, Africa and Europe in Partnership: 2 Visions, 1 Union (https://www.academia.edu/32769640/DEVELOPING_A_PAN_AFRICAN_QUALITY_ASSURANCE_AND_ACCREDITATION_FRAMEWORK_Report_Final_Draft_ for_AUC_EC_approval).

Omotosho, B. J., 2019, Junior Academics within Middle Level Academic Leadership in Emerging Universities in Nigeria, Journal of Higher Education in Africa/ Revue de l’Enseignement Supérieur en Afrique, Vol. 17, No. 1–2, pp. 83–94.

Riessman, C. K., 2008, Narrative Method for Human Sciences, Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications Inc.

Salmi, J., 2009, Key Characteristics of World-Class Universities, in The Challenge of Establishing World-Class Universities, Washington DC: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank (https://openknowledge. worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/2600/476100PUB0Univ101Official-0Use0Only1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y).

Seale, O., 2019, Towards Integrated Academic Leadership Development in African Universities: Context, Capacity and Capital, CODESRIA 2019 Institute training programme, University of Ghana, Legon.

Townsend, B. K., and Bassoppo-Moyo, S., 1997, The Effective Community College Academic Administrator: Necessary Competencies and Attitudes, Community College Review, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 41–57 (https://doi.org/10.1177/009155219702500204).

World Education News and Reviews (WENR), 2019, Education in Ghana (https:// wenr.wes.org/2019/04/education-in-ghana).