Project work on The Role of Higher Educational Institutions in Organization Leadership Development
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Date
2007-07
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A.A.U
Abstract
Organizations which achieve sustainable growth ascribe their success mainly
to their competent leaders who set direction and lead the organization
towards it by maximizing the organization's competitive advantage and
minimizing its risk.
Leadership is not exclusive club for those who were "born with it" rather
leadership is a set of behavioral skills which can be developed. Even though
approaches to leadership development vary due to the complexity of
leadership and particular need assessment, three forms of leadership
development: formal training, experience (developmental activities), and
self-help activities.
In Ethiopian context, it seems that organizational leadership development is
not in short supply rather it is not supplied at all. Government and nongovernment
higher educational institutions are flourishing; however, none of
them are engaged in organizational leadership development at program level
or offers leadership as a course in postgraduate program except International
Leadership Institute that facilitates Azusa Pacific (California based)
University 's Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership and offer Bachelor
Degree in Organization Management. With such shortage of qualified human
resources in organization leadership, organization success in today's
turbulent environment is doubtful.
To this effect leadership concept is not understood by most organization
members in Ethiopia. The two main reasons identified for lack of conceptual
understanding in leadership are absence of higher educational institutions on
leadership and lack of training on leadership . Organization members do not
recognize the importance of leadership for their organization's success mainly
due to belief that power is more important than effective leadership and
consideration of management and leadership as one and the same.
The education on leadership offered by Azusa Pacific University's and
facilitated by International Leadership Institute is said excellent in terms of
course content, teaching methodology, academic staff capacity, and duration
of the program . Grading system, follow-up and feedback mechanism, and
reference materials availability are relatively the weak areas of Ill.
The leadership program of Azusa Pacific University is said to be very
expensive and is not adequate to meet the very high demand for
organizational leadership development in Ethiopia. The main option cited is
for both government and Non-government Higher Educational Institutions to
engage in organizational leadership development.
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Keywords
Educational Institutions, Leadership Development