The mediating role of a quality academic process on the relationship between distributed leadership and the effectiveness of public universities in Nigeria

Abstract

     The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between distributed leadership, a quality academic process, and institutional effectiveness as well as the mediating role of the quality academic process on the relationship between distributed leadership and institutional effectiveness in public universities in Nigeria. The study built on the research conducted by Calvo-Moral, Leal and Roldan in 2006 on a quality educational process based on a European quality management model. A survey of 346 lecturers from public universities in Nigeria was used to validate this model. The data collected were analyzed using the Smartpls software. The results confirmed that the three main constructs for this study were second order. It was also evident that there was a positive significant relationship between distributed leadership, the quality academic process and institutional effectiveness. The findings also revealed that distributed leadership practices can enhance the effectiveness of public universities through a quality academic process. This study was limited to public universities in Nigeria and as such further research could be carried out to involve private universities. Based on the outcomes of this study, to enhance university effectiveness, university leaders should be proactive in undertaking measures that will bring about a quality academic process.