Qualitative analysis identifies critical challenges and competencies in L&T leadership by Department Chairs, suggesting the need for better support.
Learning and teaching (L&T) effectiveness is crucial for university success. The literature indicates that Department Chairs often struggle to improve L&T quality within their units due to the under-resourcing and undervaluing of their leadership roles. In this article, through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with Department Chairs, 1 and through an L&T leadership lens, we explore their experiences in faculty support and development for L&T. Analysis identified 26 components that constitute the L&T leadership of Department Chairs, including what competencies they possess, how they implement leadership, and what challenges they encounter. Department Chairs recognised that shared governance and collegial relationships are of particular importance to their sustainable leadership in L&T. By examining the factors that enable or inhibit the L&T leadership role of Department Chairs, this article highlights the need for enhanced institutional support to develop their role.
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Zan et al. (2025) studied this question.
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