INTEGRATED AVIATION TRAINING CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION: THE ROLE OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PRACTICES

Abstract

The integrated aviation training curriculum has been implemented to ensure high-quality aviation personnel training in Malaysia. However, the implementation process seemed to be at a slow pace which requires serious attention to strategic leadership and continuous quality improvement practices, especially in aviation training establishments. Therefore, this paper basically aims to discuss the level of strategic leadership and continuous quality improvement through the implementation of an integrated aviation training curriculum among local aviation academies. Additionally, the relationship between strategic leadership and continuous quality improvement practices will also be highlighted. The research utilized a quantitative approach with a survey design to address the research objectives. The respondents were 60 employees chosen from selected flying training academies using stratified random distribution. Descriptive data were collected through the adapted version of the “Strategic Leadership Questionnaires” and the “Continuous Quality Improvement Climate Survey”. Findings indicated that the levels of studied variables were high. Inferential statistics showed that there was a significant positive relationship between strategic leadership and continuous quality improvement practices. Based on the above findings, this paper provides important evidence for the aviation academy management board, national aviation authority, and the aviation community at large with regards to the primary role of strategic leadership and continuous quality improvement practices through the implementation of an integrated aviation training curriculum.