Participatory leadership and its relationship to the level of social responsibility among academic leaders in Jordanian universities

Abstract

This study aims to determine the extent of participative leadership among academic leaders in Jordanian universities and its relationship with social responsibility as perceived by faculty members. This study utilized a descriptive research design, sampling 357 faculty members during the academic year 2022/2023. Data were collected to measure faculty perceptions of participative leadership and social responsibility within their institutions. Results indicated that both participative leadership and social responsibility were perceived at a moderate level among academic leaders. A significant and positive correlation was found between participative leadership and social responsibility suggesting that increased participative leadership is associated with higher levels of social responsibility. The study concludes that enhancing participative leadership practices may positively influence the social responsibility of academic leaders while participative leadership and social responsibility are currently perceived as moderate. This relationship highlights the importance of leadership styles in fostering socially responsible academic environments. The study recommends providing training sessions for academic staff to underscore the importance of participative leadership and social responsibility. Increasing faculty involvement in decision-making processes and expanding access to affordable training opportunities are also suggested to strengthen these practices within Jordanian universities.