From administration to transformation: The new role of managers in higher education

Gloria Lamaro, Elly Kurobuza Ndyomugenyi and George Ladaah Openjuru

African Educational Research Journal
Published: November 21 2025
Volume 13, Issue 4
Pages 461-471
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17669981

Abstract

This study explored the evolving role of university managers in higher education, focusing on their transition from traditional administrative functions to transformational leadership roles. Employing a qualitative case study approach at Gulu University, Uganda, the research examined managers’ adaptations during their engagement with the TESCEA (Transforming Employability for Social Change in East Africa) project. Data were collected through interviews, focus groups, and document analysis, revealing that managers increasingly acted as facilitators, change agents, and advocates for gender equity and employability reforms. Despite these positive developments, they encountered challenges such as resource limitations, bureaucratic resistance, and insufficient leadership training. Managers adopted strategies including collaborative governance, capacity building, and policy integration to sustain reforms. The findings highlight the critical need for targeted leadership development, institutional policy reform, and cultural shifts toward participatory governance in African universities. The study contributed empirical insights into the expanding and transformative roles of university managers within resource-constrained and complex socio-political contexts.

Keywords: Transformational leadership, higher education, curriculum reform.

Full Text PDF

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0