Leadership of Internationalisation at a Higher Education Institution in Thailand: Voices from Within
Keywords:
Leadership, Internationalisation of higher education, Public higher education institution, ThailandAbstract
This study examines perceptions of the leadership of the internationalisation of one public higher education institution in Thailand. Based on documentary research and data from semi-structured interviews with senior leaders, lecturers and staff involved in 3 undergraduate international programmes (IP), it presents an analysis of the leadership dimensions which influence the progress of the internationalisation of higher education (IHE) of the institution in question. It situates the study within the dense global literature which addresses the strategies and factors considered crucial to effective IHE leadership, while addressing the unique local and cultural context of such an institution in Thailand. It concludes that while significant progress has been made in IHE by the institution in question, leaders should consider introducing greater clarity, inclusivity, and integration so that employees feel empowered and motivated to contribute towards, and ‘own’, the expansion of the internationalisation agenda. The study also determines that the dimension of ‘situation’ is paramount in terms of how leadership functions, and that bureaucracy, in particular, strongly influences leadership trends and models within the institution.
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