Evaluating and enhancing leadership in higher education

The first issue was addressed through a review of the literature on higher education leadership and management, as well as a survey of leadership effectiveness conducted at three Australian universities and involving over 500 participants. The survey used was the Quality Leadership Profile (QLP), a "360 degree" leadership evaluation tool developed at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Results suggest a number of pressing leadership development needs for senior staff, including the way leaders handle day to day subordinate interactions and exchanges, to larger scale issues related to communicating vision and direction in learning institutions. Research linking these issues to organisational climate and performance is identified.

The paper then describes how results from the QLP form the basis of a systematic program of leadership development and support at QUT. At an individual level, QLP results help leaders to receive, internalise and act on valid information regarding their leadership. One to one discussions of QLP results, including individual development planning, therefore forms an important and effective part of the organisation's overall management development strategy. Additionally, information on leadership can point to systemic issues which need to be tackled by the organisation as a whole. These issues are more difficult to resolve, though the use of organisation wide training and development is discussed. The influence that leadership information can have on organisational policy, procedures and structures is also considered.