An Analysis of Higher Education Leadership in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a senior leader at an international institution of higher education in the United Arab Emirates. The questionnaire utilized in the study was developed by an organizational taskforce employing the frameworks of servant leadership. The project solicited perceptions from all employees regarding (1) leadership focus, (2) strategic insight and ability, (3) building effective teams and community, along with (4) ethical formation and decision-making. A quantitative methodology was utilized for this study. The paper conducted a factor analysis for dimension reduction on the findings of the questionnaire. Results were analyzed for reliability and validity. The instrument was found to be highly reliable with a Chronbach alpha of 0.977. The evaluation of validity identified only one underlying factor driving the organizational responses. This factor was identified as the employee's global perception. The study evidences a holistic view of leadership rather than a component view.