Ethical leadership: perceptions of instructors and academic leaders of western cluster public universities of Ethiopia

Abstract

The major purpose of the study was to assess the ethical leadership perceptions of academic leaders and instructors in the Western Cluster universities of Ethiopia. To this end, qualitative study was employed to collect data for the purpose. Data were collected from instructors, department heads, college deans, academic vice president, and ethics officers of western cluster universities and then thematically analyzed to identify important constructs of ethical leadership. The study found out that, the conceptions of ethics by the public universities was largely dominated by the notions of adherences to laws. Accordingly, the study recommends that, the leaders in Western Cluster public universities need to revisit their practices that affected the perceptions and develop a wider understanding of ethical leadership that goes beyond adherence to rules and regulations and be able to see the ethical and moral element of the leadership. Moreover, they are expected to understand their respective institutions and develop effective communication systems. This could be more realized by introducing mechanisms of developing leadership skills including leadership development programs to lead today’s modern organizations effectively.