Abstract

The quality of university education has become such a high-profile issue, in the 21st century due to the changes and challenges that face the entire education system in the world. The rise in student population through adoption and application of different modes of learning, have raised concerns about quality of public university education. The study sought to explore the views and understanding of higher education managers on being appointed as academic leaders in a higher education context in Malawi and to investigate the managers’ perception on challenges that they face as leaders in higher education institutions. The study had three research objectives; to determine the nature and magnitude of leadership challenges facing Malawi’s public universities in relation to their missions, to determine the implications of leadership challenges on the quality of university education and to identify the strategies public universities have put in place to cope with leadership challenges to ensure quality of education. This study was qualitative in nature; hence employed descriptive design. The study was carried out in three Malawi’s public universities which were purposively sampled. The study established that public universities, that took part in the study, did not have enough teaching and learning resources. The study found out that insufficient fund was the biggest management challenge as it affected all the other areas of research, teaching and learning. It was also revealed that the curriculum was not adequately implemented due to inadequate teaching and learning resources and teaching staff. All these management challenges were found to have an implication on leadership and the quality of education offered in the universities. The study recommends that, the universities and the government should establish appropriate, reliable, diversified and sustainable mechanisms for financing university operations. More importantly, universities should put in place clear curriculum regulatory processes and improve lecturers’ incentive system.

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School	: School of Law, Economics and Government
Issued Date	: 2021

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