Patterns of Relationships Between College Teachers’ Leadership Competence and Work Engagement in Selected Private Higher Education Institutions in Davao Region: The Mediating Impact of School as Professional Learning Community

Abstract

This study explores the correlation between leadership competence and work engagement among college teachers in Davao region's private higher education institutions. Adopting a mediation model, it investigates the influence of the school as a professional learning community on this relationship. Through a quantitative nonexperimental descriptive-correlational approach, 105 college teachers who were selected using cluster sampling technique from selected private higher education institutions participated in the survey. The findings reveal high levels of leadership competence, work engagement, and perception of the school as a professional learning community among the college teachers. It was also found that there are significant positive correlations among leadership competence, school as a professional learning community, and work engagement. Furthermore, the study identifies the school as a professional learning community as a significant mediating factor, partially explaining the correlation between leadership competence and work engagement. These results underline the importance of fostering a supportive and collaborative school environment to enhance leadership competence and teacher engagement in Davao region's private higher education institutions. This study sheds light on the crucial role of school as a professional learning community, offering insights for educational policymakers and administrators seeking to champion leadership competence and work engagement of college teachers in the 21st century.