An evaluation of contemporary leadership and governance challenges Research Paper - 1

An evaluation of contemporary leadership and governance challenges among universities in Africa - Research Paper Example By identifying and evaluating the major challenges that face leaders in African universities, it is possible to provide research based solutions to these problems, which in turn will enhance effective leadership strategies as the path for development in these countries. Objectives of the study Main Objectives To evaluate the challenges that are facing the leaders in African Universities in their administrative role. To investigate poor leadership qualities within the administrative bodies of the university. Specific Objectives To identify, through data collection, the major challenges that leaders in African Universities have to confront in their day to day duties. To identify weaknesses that exist within the university leadership and governance that has contributed to the problem of poor leadership. To analyse the results of the survey in to establish the common leadership problems among the African universities. To recommend possible solutions to the problems that are threatening l eadership and governance in African Universities. ... world countries and the path to rise to international heights has become rough, making these countries remain stagnated in terms of growth and development. This has generated a lot of attention among many researchers to investigate the barriers that have kept the pace of growth in these countries slow and unyielding (Task Force on Higher Education and Society, 2000). A research by Petlane (2009) indicated that one of the major challenges in these countries is the poor leadership and governance in this country that has failed to drive the country to economic success. The findings of this research have triggered significant research to investigate the challenges that University leaders have faced in implementing development goals in the country. A recent research conducted by Kuada (2010) was meant to investigate on the knowledge gaps that exist within African leaders that have undermined the development of third world countries. The findings of this research indicate that the weakness of African leaders emanates from the shortage of development skills and knowledge that exist within them. Other researchers have identified the need shortage of technological knowledge among the leaders which is a necessity in a technologically growing environment. Previous research by Hall and Symes (2005) provided that the only way to enhance development in African countries is by maintaining effective leadership in tertiary institutions and impacting leadership mentorship in upcoming professionals. Although researchers have reached a concession that the reason why African countries have failed to shine in the global scope is because of the many challenges that confront leaders in these countries, researchers have failed to identify the specific challenges that face leaders especially