Capacity building of educational leaders in an era of change: The role of higher education providers

Abstract

The claim that inculcation of leadership practices and capacity building of educational leaders could constitute an effective response to contemporary and specifi c exigencies of educational organisations of the twenty-fi rst century is strongly supported in the current literature synthesised here. The well-tested leadership development framework that Kouzes and Posner (The leadership challenge (5th ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2013) devised has the potential for facilitating leadership capacity building in all contexts, including the Pacific. In this regard, the time may be ripe for higher educational institutions to revisit their leadership programmes with an eye to adequate preparation of a new generation of educators equipped with an armoury of best leadership practices custom-built for their use. This vital input in all educational contexts would enable leaders to engage effectively in all operations and functions and fast-forward their educational organisations in the current environment of rapid change. Acquiring relevant knowledge and skills opens the way for educational leaders to address in constructive ways the ongoing march of challenges in education.