Academic Leadership in Higher Education

Abstract

Purpose: The effectiveness of our higher education system depends on effective and vibrant teachers with knowledge of Academics, Assessment and evaluation, Pedagogy, Research Culture, and Innovation in teaching & learning. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 specifies that the “most important factor in the success of higher education institutions is the quality and engagement of its faculty. The study focuses on the understanding of NEP and OBE amongst faculty members and academic leaders, the factors affecting teaching and learning in higher education, and the role of academic leadership in implementing outcome-based education in higher education.

Approach: The study is based on the data collected from 53 academic leaders from 53 different B- schools.  To have better results the study has collected data from different regions in India, covering East, West, North, and South. Data is collected through a data triangulation approach. For this purpose, structured questionnaires were used, telephonic interviews of the sample and Focus Group Discussions with members of the senior cadre were conducted. The study employed different methods of data collection, preliminary interviews, and focus group discussions to yield the parameters on which a structured questionnaire was prepared. After deciding on the constructs of the scale, indicator items were prepared. Statistical analysis is done to assess the awareness and application of NEP 2020 in Management Education.

Results: The focus group discussion and primary interview with the academic leader helped to design the application of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs to Employee Engagement in Higher Education. The faculty need to know the level of their performance and areas in which they need improvement. Performance improvement helps the organization to meet its goals and objectives. Performance counselling is a very important activity that helps employees to know themselves better. It has been observed that employee engagement increases with performance counselling. Hence the desired result of NEP implementation will be better with faculty training and counselling. The attributes of Academic Leadership for academic, administrative, and research & extension activities are identified, analyzed, and evaluated. A conceptual model with the required attributes and qualities for a Role model/Super academic leader is also described.

Type of Paper: Exploratory and descriptive