THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATOR: FROM EXECUTIVE ROBOTO TO AN INSPIRATIONAL LEADER

Current post-secondary institutions work within the context of an evolving “global village” that spans across continents, nations, and peoples. With fluid national borders and increasing international migration, post-secondary institutions facing tighter budgets with decreasing national funding, have found international students an attractive and practical means to offset dwindling revenues. With institutional partnerships at global level involving student & faculty exchanges between countries, the research institution has co-opted collaboration between scholars around the world. In terms of pedagogy and management, leaders of educational institutions increasingly deal with critical thinking, capacity-building, inclusion and equality, sustainability, development, community relationships, emerging technologies, accessibility, indigenization, and internationalization. These are diverse issues but connect in a confluence of joint-ventures and research initiatives in varying degrees. The intersectionality in a post-colonial world is not without its economics, history, demography, social milieu, and politics. Caught in a complex web of intricate fluidity, the university leader needs to address multifarious aspects of managing a successful institution. The empowerment in the learning process entails addressing the contemporary incongruities, historical disruptions, current fiscal demands, and a broader view of educational enterprise. Lacking an insight into this may derail the progress of post-secondary institutions. A strong leader at the helm is no more just an efficient manager but an empathetic, sensitive, compassionate and yet pragmatic human who contributes to building institutional character. This paper looks at the notion of inclusive leadership in higher education and democratizing the world of higher education with global level of analyses (most recently published book chapters by the author on these topics) and connecting these to the individual leadership qualities. The discussion will also consider the role of tone in educational leadership to build creative climate on campus and within our schools. It will look at enhancing the gift of leadership in building innovative approaches that are based on models being used for K-12 school leadership training.