The role of university leadership in managing strategic quality development in higher education

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of university leadership in managing strategic quality development in Vietnamese higher education institutions. Drawing on a mixed-method design, the study combines survey data from 287 university leaders and faculty members with 24 semi-structured interviews and document analysis from eight institutions. Quantitative results reveal that leadership effectiveness significantly predicts strategic quality development, which in turn influences institutional performance. Qualitative findings highlight the importance of participatory planning, digital transformation, and internal feedback mechanisms. The study aligns with global literature on leadership and quality, while offering localized insights from the Vietnamese context. It concludes that effective leadership is essential for integrating innovation, accountability, and sustainability into institutional strategies, and for achieving long-term quality goals