President’s Strategic Leadership Factors Affecting Organizational Effectiveness of Private Universities in Hunan Province

Abstract

          As of the end of 2023, there were a total of 10912 private schools (excluding training institutions) in Hunan Province, with a total of 2.614 million students enrolled, accounting for 38.8% of the total number of schools in the province and 17.9% of students, respectively. At present, private education in Hunan has formed a development situation from preschool education to higher education, from academic education to non academic education, with diverse levels and types, and full of vitality. Private education has become an important component of the education industry. According to the list of universities released by the Ministry of Education, there are a total of 35 private higher education institutions in Hunan Province, including 21 private undergraduate universities, with a total of 11871 on duty faculty and staff, and a total of 239391 registered university students. As a result, Hunan Province, as a major education province, has a large number of private universities with distinct characteristics. However, it also faces challenges such as funding shortages, weak teaching staff, and imperfect management systems. The quantity and quality of its private universities have an important impact on the regional economic and social development. As the leader of the university's development, the president's strategic leadership has become a key factor in promoting the sustainable development of the university and enhancing organizational effectiveness.
          The research on the strategic leadership of Chinese private university presidents has developed in the context of the socialist market economy system and education system reform with Chinese characteristics. This research field has gradually emerged since the early 21st century, especially after the promulgation of the China Private Education Promotion Law (2002), private higher education has gained legal status and development space, and the demand for research in related fields has also increased. Zhang Yan (2021) systematically reviewed the theoretical development of strategic leadership and looked forward to future research directions in "Research on Strategic Leadership: Recent 20 Years and Future Research Directions". Qi Xiaolin (2023) pointed out in "The Role Positioning Conflict and Role Creation of the President of Private Undergraduate Universities" that the President plays multiple roles in promoting the development of universities, facing conflicts and challenges in role positioning. It is urgent to achieve effective role transformation and creation through the exercise of strategic leadership.
          Based on the current situation of private universities in Hunan Province, focusing on the relationship between president’s strategic leadership and organizational effectiveness of private universities, the research exploring how presidents can enhance the organizational effectiveness of universities through strategic leadership. Through in-depth analysis and empirical research of existing literature, from a theoretical perspective, the research will enrich the theoretical system of the relationship between president’s strategic leadership and organizational effectiveness, providing a new perspective for subsequent research; From a practical perspective, the research results will provide guidance for private universities to improve their management level, optimize resource allocation, and improve education quality; From a policy research perspective, the research will provide a basis for education administrative departments to formulate relevant policies and promote the healthy development of private higher education; From a sociological perspective, the research will promote educational equity, promote social harmony and progress; This has important theoretical and practical significance for promoting the development of private higher education, improving education quality and management level, and achieving educational equity.