Three researchers from the Bahria University Islamabad found through a regression analysis of responses from 629 university leaders that transformational leadership supports and promotes the research culture in universities.
With a national-level focus on moving towards an information-based economy, Pakistani universities are in urgent need to adopt and support an R&D culture. These three researchers from the Bahria University, Islamabad (Hassan Daud Butt, Dr.Riaz Ahmad, and Israr Ahmad) asserted that human and academic capital both are key pillars of a viable information economy and the role of higher education institutes becomes critically important in this regard.
Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan has been active in the previous few years to promote and support research culture in higher education institutions.
National Research Program for Universities (NRPU) is one of the important steps by HEC for the promotion of research activities. Under this program, HEC offers research grants to highly competitive and promising research projects which have potential to impact the local industry and society in a positive manner and carry strong strategic relevance. One amazing feature of NRPU is that it allows researchers to go with their unique research concept and method and this behavior is highly recommended to enjoy the benefits of applied research coming with unique and innovative ideas.
However, the actual benefits of such initiatives and programs can be achieved only if universities ensure proper use of this funding. Here, the role of university leadership comes into play!
In this context, this recently published study becomes relevant since it addressed the importance of leadership in supporting R&D culture in Pakistani universities and motivates them to assess whether they have the right R&D culture by providing a checklist of the following nine basic characteristics:
- Empowering researchers to take risks
- Encourage teamwork
- Allow researchers to become self-sufficient
- Tolerate errors and celebrate success
- Build an environment of cooperation
- Encourage knowledge sharing
- Allow open communication
- Focus research activities towards the requirements of market and client
- Stay connected with research organizations at the local as well as international level
Transformational leadership is known for its support for innovation and change. However, these researchers focused on four angles that seem most relevant for promoting the R&D culture in universities:
- Having a visionary point of view for R&D activities
- Engaging in and promoting scholarly activities
- Urge to do something creative and support creative activities around them
- Support and promote research and development activities in an idealized manner
Keeping the HODs and Deans as the main focus of the study, the research tried to fulfil the following two objectives
- Decide the social model of research and development activities in Pakistani universities
- Explore the connections between support of transformative leadership and research and development culture in Pakistanโs higher education institutions
In order to get statistical evidence for these research objectives, the study used responses of 629 university leaders and tested the data using regression analysis. The results supported the assumed positive association between transformational leadership and research culture as this style of leadership is found to be positively related with all nine characteristics of R&D culture focused in the study.
Since research culture is not so mature when we talk about Pakistani higher education institutions, this research can serve as a guide for universities leadership. They can use the links proposed in the study to identify existing gaps in their leadership style and hurdles in promoting a research-friendly culture in their institutions.
Do you think this study can intrigue university leaders to change their leadership style?
Reference
https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/universities/nrpu/Pages/Introduction.aspx
