Leadership attributes driving the transformation agenda in a university in South Africa

Abstract

This study investigates the leaders’ knowledge and leadership attributes that have the potential to influence transformation, post-merger and incorporation of the DUT. The research study is grounded in quantitative methods whereby a survey was conducted to 191 university leaders with 133 returned successfully generating the response percentage of 70%. The findings generated the reliability coefficient Alpha of 0.947 indicating the high degree of acceptance and consistent of the results. The findings revealed the highest percentage of 70% regarding the belief that transformation refers to restructuring the institution more than commonly anticipated variables such as race (56%). Furthermore the findings revealed that nearly 40% of the research participants do not feel that the university creates platform for open debates; independent thinking and freedom of speech (30%). This study is expected to contribute to the body of knowledge in the realization of both the institutional and national transformation agenda.