Management, Leadership and Change: Views from Rectors, Vice-Rectors and Academic Staff in Vietnamese Higher Education Institutions

Recent changes in the Vietnamese Higher Education system have mandated more autonomy for institutions, thereby highlighting the importance of leaders and managers with suitable experience and expertise. Rectors/Vice-Rectors and Academic staff in Vietnamese Higher Education institutions were surveyed to determine their satisfaction with leadership and management. Academic staff reported significantly lower mean ratings of satisfaction than Rectors/Vice-Rectors. Academic staff were also questioned about the value they place on autonomy and control over their working life. A large majority of Academic staff supported more autonomy and control over their working life. Results suggest a pressing need to augment leadership and managerial expertise at the institutional level in Vietnam, to develop skills in decision making and to move from reactive to proactive leadership. Change from an authoritarian hierarchical culture focused on management to a reciprocal culture focused on distributed leadership requires a cultural change in the way Higher Education institutions are managed and led in Vietnam.