Leadership Development among Universities in Kosovo: Challenges and Alternatives

Abstract

Abstract This article analyses the potential impact of leadership development initiatives on the quality of higher education institutions in Kosovo. Taking into account the fact that leadership is a crucial factor in improving management and performance of institutions, it is necessary to develop and integrate it into the higher education system. Current developments in the education have proven that leadership development in universities is no longer an option, it is instead a necessity. This development takes place at the beginning of teachers’ carrier and aims to assist them in developing leadership skills they need to lead schools in the future. School leaders who are considered to be successful at leading tend to make sure that their staff have access to workplace learning and training with many schools providing sets of professional learning activities which ensure the development of leadership skills. This approach emphasises tasks related with student achievements, staff performance, curriculum development and data analysis. It has been defined that the development of leadership that rests on organisation theory is hindered by numerous current challenges at the universities in Kosovo. These challenges are: lack of networking and cooperation, lack of planning and, ultimately, the lack of management and leadership skills. While higher education institutions in Kosovo face many challenges, we assume that they could enhance academic quality and overall student achievements by increasing leadership capacities. In the context of transition of the university role, the demand for leadership development is a need for carrying out university reforms and achieving educational advancement. Thus, the development of leadership skills is more a necessity than an option for higher education institutions to prepare students appropriately for the new era. It has been substantiated that practices such as multisource feedback, action learning and coaching have proven to be useful and their application could increase leadership capacities of educational institutions that are built on organisational approaches and theories concerning enhancement of their quality.