Reinventing Faculty Leadership and Management Styles in Kenyan Universities Through Training During the Post COVID- 19 Era, A Case of Alupe University, Busia, Kenya

Abstract

The aim of study was to establish whether there was any influence of post COVID-19 pandemic on faculty leadership and management. Faculty leadership and management styles seemed to play a significant role towards the attainment of institutional goals and vision.A case study approach was adopted. The study purposefully sampled five Chairs of Departments (CoDs) from the School of Education and Social Sciences (SESS), at Alupe University. The results indicated that a majority of the CoDs in the school were male (4) compared to their female counterparts (1). Results were a strong positive relationship between leadership and training (r=0.589, ρ<0.01), while trainings undertaken by the CoDs and their members of department plays a significant role their adjustment in to new norm. ICT compliance is (r=0.496, ρ<0.01) while Conflict of interest on the blended or hybrid approach to running of daily businesses recorded (r=0.585, ρ<0.01). The study concluded that the pandemic has impacted negatively on the old leadership and management approaches. That the sample experience unprecedented challenges associated with the new norm way of running their daily tasks mostly because the new norm demands for the new ways of handling matters leadership. Based on these the study made recommendations leadership approaches that embrace innovation, manage change and lead strategically for university attainment of its goals and vision.The study recommends that there is an increasing need for academic leaders (CoDs) who can identify new market opportunities, innovate, manage change and lead strategically for the university to attain its goals and vision in the post pandemic era. That digital knowledge is crucial in the new norm dispensation. As a result, periodical trainings on leadership and management is necessary for CoDs and other leaders with university settings.