Role of Academic Leadership in Supporting Students with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This exploratory study examines the experiences of academic leaders in Saudi universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It employed semi-structured interviews to gather data on the schools shutting down and transitioning to online education concerning their role in supporting students with disabilities and the challenges faced by academic leaders during this time. Three main themes emerged from the interviews. The first theme was “shifting to remote learning”, which highlighted the efforts made to adapt to modern technologies and maintain educational continuity during the closures. The second theme, “ensuring equitable access”, enlightened the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of the pandemic. The interviews reveal the constant need for academic leaders to adapt their leadership strategies and decision-making processes as current information and guidelines emerge. The third theme, “supporting faculty, students and their families,” focuses on the concerns and challenges faced by principals regarding teachers and students with special needs and their families. The study concludes by exploring how the transformative experiences of the pandemic may shape future academic leaders in crises. It provides valuable insights into the academic leadership in Saudi Arabian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic along with important implications, limitations and future research direction.