Leadership of Organization Administrators in an Open University in China: A Case Study

Background and Aim: In the context of enhancing educational quality and leadership effectiveness, the study aimed to evaluate academic leadership and the attributes of being a learning organization among educational institution administrators at Guangdong Open University. This assessment is critical for identifying the strengths and areas for improvement within the institution's leadership and resource development strategies. The research specifically focused on measuring various dimensions of academic leadership, including the development of learning media, resources, measurement and evaluation practices, educational supervision, and internal quality assurance systems. Materials and Methods: A quantitative research design was employed to gather data from educational institution administrators at Guangdong Open University. A structured questionnaire was developed, encompassing several dimensions of academic leadership and organizational learning characteristics. The questionnaire was validated for content and reliability, and respondents rated their agreement with various statements on a Likert scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Data analysis involved calculating means and standard deviations for each item, as well as overall scores for each dimension. Descriptive statistics were used to interpret the level of academic leadership, with specific attention given to identifying areas of strength and those requiring further development. Results: The findings indicated that the administrators demonstrated high levels of academic leadership across various dimensions, with average scores as follows: Development of Learning Media: 4.57 Development of Learning Resources: 4.55 Measurement and Evaluation: 4.52 Educational Supervision: 4.62 Development of Internal Quality Assurance Systems: 4.63 Being a Learning Organization: 4.48 These results highlight a significant commitment by the administrators to enhancing educational practices, promoting the use of learning resources, and establishing robust internal quality assurance mechanisms. Conclusion: The study concludes that educational institution administrators at Guangdong Open University exhibit strong academic leadership qualities, particularly in the areas of learning resource development and internal quality assurance. The high average scores across all measured dimensions suggest that administrators are effectively fostering an environment conducive to learning and academic growth. Moving forward, the institution should focus on maintaining these strengths while addressing any identified gaps, particularly in fostering team learning and systematic thinking. Continuous professional development and training opportunities for administrators may further enhance their leadership capabilities, ultimately contributing to improved educational outcomes.