Author(s): Nandita Abraham, Sunil Rai, Geeta Thakur, Sanoj Kumar and Rachel Kurian
The market-oriented reforms 1991 stimulated the increase of private universities in India, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for academic leadership in these institutions. This research contributes to understanding and promoting effective leadership in private universities in India in the third decade of the 21st Century. It identifies essential competencies for the Vice-Chancellors and Deans, estimates the extent of existing gaps, and highlights priorities to achieve academic excellence with financial and social sustainability. A combination of methods are used in the study. A comparative literature review of academic leadership ascertained 25 critical competencies for effective leadership. Purposive sampling, its validation for reliability, was followed by in-depth interviews with 22 academic leaders in Indian private universities to obtain their views on these competencies, including their assessment of the current and required levels among academic leaders in Indian private universities today. The findings underscore the critical need to redefine strategic and effective leadership priorities. While traditional requirements such as academic excellence and research quality remain foundational, contemporary demands necessitate additional competencies. These include strategic foresight, change management proficiency, financial expertise and the ability to foster positive societal impacts. The analysis reveals significant gaps, particularly in visionary leadership, data-driven decision-making, and proactive change management for academic leaders in private universities in India.