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

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

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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