Academic Leadership in Higher Educational İnstitutions: Case of Khazar University

Abstract

The present study fills the gap in the current literature and sheds light on academic leadership in higher education in Azerbaijan. The purpose of the study is to determine the perceptions of executive academicians in the context of leadership, professional development and organizational culture. The data in this study were collected through interviews. The study use phenomenology method. It has been observed that the perceived academic leadership roles are mostly performed in the light of the answers given by the executive academicians to the questions about academic leadership. In cases where academic leadership roles cannot be fulfilled, different solutions are offered. As an obstacle to academic leadership roles, the habits of the executive academics themselves and their colleagues and administrative policies came to the fore. In overcoming the stated obstacles, communication and personal relations came to the fore, while the libertarian working environment, experience sharing, creating awareness, transparency and institutionalization were mentioned. Recommendations for future research are described.