This book unlocks mysteries surrounding university presidents. Presidents have a large and growing influence on world and academic affairs. Yet until now, little has been revealed about how they enact their roles, how they capture motivation and academic energy, and their views on higher education.
This book sheds light on these critical topics, revealing insights from in-depth interviews with presidents of nineteen globally focused universities from thirteen countries. The book presents the interview transcripts and surrounds these with interpretative commentary. Underpinned by leadership theory and framed by analysis, the book provides glimpses into how top leaders think, how presidents manoeuvre through their careers, how leaders form and run productive teams, and opportunities for research and innovation. Common themes and challenges are identified. The presidents reflect on university landscapes, strategic outlooks, the formation of executive teams, online teaching, funding, industry engagement, sustainability, grand challenges, and interdisciplinarity.
This book is for professionals and scholars who are interested in education, universities, public policy, science and humanities, and global affairs.
About the Author: Hamish Coates is a Tenured Professor at the Institute of Education Tsinghua University, Director of the Higher Education Research Division, and Deputy Director of the Tsinghua University Global Research Centre for the Assessment of College and Student Development.
Zheping Xie is Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office and an Associate Professor at the Tsinghua University Institute of Education.
Wen Wen is Deputy Secretary of the Tsinghua University Centre for Asian Studies and an Associate Professor at the Institute of Education Tsinghua University.
