Higher Educational Leadership in VUCA Contexts: Accessing VUCA Prime and Wisdom for Effective Leadership

by Upasana Gitanjali Singh (Editor), Cecile Gerwel Proches (Editor), Angela Antoinette James (Editor), Robyn Ruttenberg-Rozen (Editor)

Overview

Higher Educational Leadership in VUCA Contexts addresses emerging issues in Higher Education leadership in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) context, that have rapidly exasperated since the COVID-19 pandemic.  Higher education has been redefined, changing how and where we work, teach, research, and engage stakeholders, thus resulting in existing strategies and plans being revisited to respond effectively.

Using the model of Vision, Understanding, Clarity, Agility (VUCA prime) to address emerging issues in Higher Education leadership, chapter explore seven key issues of globalization, status quo thinking, e-leadership, mentorship, gender equity, racial equity, and funding.

Higher Educational Leadership in VUCA Contexts is academically informed but practitioner focused as it incorporates recent research into VUCA and VUCA prime, Leadership, HEI’s, Education, Information Systems and Generative AI. The research is supplemented with real-world applications, toolkits, and case studies designed to enhance leadership development and effectiveness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781836086833
Publisher:	Emerald Publishing Limited
Publication date:	11/25/2025
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x (d)

About the Author

Upasana Gitanjali Singh is the Academic Leader and a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Information Systems and Technology at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, in Durban South Africa.

Cecile Gerwel Proches is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSB&L) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa.

Angela Antoinette James is an Associate Professor in Science Education and Academic Leader in Community Engagement, School of Education, School of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Robyn Ruttenberg-Rozen is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech University, Canada.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. The Power of Imagination: Leading curriculum renewal for transformative Higher Education; Ruenda Loots, Maurisa Moloto, and Vanessa von der Heyde
Chapter 2. Undoing Gender with Leadership: The VUCA of College Men’s Masculinity and developing critical consciousness through leadership learning; Keenan Y. Colquitt and Conor P. McLaughlin
Chapter 3. Leader Development in the USAF and Thriving in the VUCA Ecosystem: VUCA Context, VUCA Prime, VUCA Change, and VUCA Leadership; John M. Hinck
Chapter 4. Addressing Global Issues of Status -Quo Thinking in Higher Education Institution; Harvinder Singh and Angela James
Chapter 5. Perceptions Of Middle Managers on Change Implementation in a Public South African Higher Education Institution; Antoinette Suené Botha and Cecile Gerwel Proches
Chapter 6. From VUCA to VUCA Prime: Steering Higher Education With E-Leadership, AI, and Deep Learning; Moustafa Mohamed Hassan and Khairul Anuar Mohd Ali
Chapter 7. First-Time Virtual Leaders’ Approaches During Disruptions: Reflections From First- Line Leaders in a South African Higher Education Institution; Abdulbaqi Eyitayo Badru, Cecile Gerwel Proches, and Oluwaseun Temitope Ojogiwa
Chapter 8. Navigating Higher Educational Leadership in a VUCA World: Addressing Global Challenges amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic; Harvinder Singh
Chapter 9. Building Resilient Institutions: Leadership Strategies For Crisis Management in Higher Education; Yusuf Suleiman and Ibrahim Musa Akanbi
Chapter 10. Leadership Transparency and Its Impact on Teaching and Learning in South African Higher Education; Alexander Samuels
Chapter 11. Re-Designing Educational Processes for Relevance in a Globalized VUCA Context; Ella Ruth Anaya and Sergio Cepero Espinosa
Chapter 12. Navigating the VUCA World: The role of Agile Leadership in Higher Education Institutions; Tehreem Fatima, Naveed Yasin, Muhammad Waqas, and Muhammad Kashif Imran
Chapter 13. Leveraging Partnerships in Assessment as a Pillar of Leadership in VUCA Contexts; Eliana Elkhoury
Chapter 14. Higher Education Leadership in Navigating VUCA Situation: Globalization of Postcolonial Cambodia; Loeurt To