Educational Leadership in Arts Teacher Training: Cultural Preservation and Managerial Competencies in Vietnam

This study examines educational leadership in arts teacher training in Vietnam, with a focus on cultural preservation and managerial competencies in higher education institutions. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combined surveys with 85 participants and semi-structured interviews with 20 leaders and managers from three universities specializing in arts education, supplemented by document analysis of institutional policies and national regulations. Findings reveal that participants demonstrated strength in strategic planning, human resource management, and academic leadership, but faced persistent challenges in financial management and digital-cultural transformation. Qualitative insights emphasized the tension between preserving Vietnamese artistic traditions and embracing modernization, as well as the lack of systematic professional development for managerial staff. The study argues that effective leadership in arts teacher education requires an integrated framework that combines transformational and distributed leadership theories, competency-based models, and cultural preservation approaches. Recommendations include enhancing professional development programs, strengthening digital leadership, and embedding cultural stewardship into institutional strategies to ensure sustainable and competitive arts teacher education.