The Role of Leadership on Quality of Higher Education in the Banadir Region, Somalia

Abstract

This research study focused on the role of leadership on quality of higher education in the Banadir region, Somalia. The specific objectives of the study were to explore the roles of leadership on the quality of higher education in the Banadir region, Somalia, to establish the different methods or approaches being used by leaders in promoting the quality of higher education in the Banadir region, Somalia and to examine the challenges affecting the roles of leadership on the quality of higher education in the Bandar region, Somalia. The study adopted a mixed research design to enhance the overall quality of results. The study population in the study categorized three groups. A total of sample size of 80 universities administrators, institutional administrators and full-time staff were surveyed from seven universities and Ministry of education, culture and higher education of Somalia using data collection instrument called questionnaire. The main findings of the study were that leadership in various universities in Somalia played leading roles in promoting quality higher education in Banadir region, Somalia and these roles encompass: leadership and management roles, academic leadership roles, institutional leadership roles, transformation leadership roles, administrative function roles and promoting and improving students’ performance roles. Furthermore, the findings of the study revealed that the main challenges affecting the roles of leadership on the quality of higher education in Banadir region, Somalia encompass: lack of developed excellent academic mission, vision, goals and the core values, low level of level of students’ engagement with the faculty, department, ineffective curriculum, lack of responsiveness and effectiveness of quality support services of the students, lack of management and implementation of quality assurance by complying with the academic and infrastructural standards, lack of enough technology infrastructure and ensures its effective use for enhancing teaching learning experience of the students, there is no adequate equipment, there is low level of understanding students' needs, courtesy and so forth. The main recommendations of the study were that leadership in the university should play their crucial roles pertaining quality higher education promotion and provision of quality students’ service and the Federal Government of Somalia should provide learning resources to various universities to foster quality higher education promotion, should carry curriculum review and revision as well as establishment of education policy reform to promote quality higher education in Somalia.