Getting Empowered and Developing an Environment of Administrative Resilience for the Effective Functioning of Public Colleges

Author(s) : Ikram Ul Haque Bhatti1, Nadia Gilani2 & Syed Abdul Waheed3*

Abstract:

This qualitative research explores strategies for empowering principals and fostering administrative resilience to enhance the effective functioning of public colleges in Pakistan. A purposive sample of 12 principals from various public colleges was selected to collect data through semi-structured interviews. The study explores principals' perceptions of existing administrative challenges, their experiences with empowerment initiatives, and their conceptualizations of an ideal resilient administrative environment. Motivation to work, community engagement, and missionary zeal emerged as the main themes of the study after undertaking a thematic analysis. The findings suggest that empowering principals through increased autonomy in decision-making, professional development opportunities, and access to necessary resources significantly contributes to improved college management. Furthermore, the development of administrative resilience, characterized by adaptive leadership, robust communication channels, and a supportive organizational culture, is crucial for navigating unforeseen crises and ensuring sustained operational efficiency. The study highlights the critical need for policy interventions aimed at decentralizing authority, investing in leadership training, and building collaborative frameworks to cultivate empowered and resilient administrative structures within Pakistan's public college system, ultimately leading to enhanced educational outcomes.

Keywords: Empowerment, resilience, academic development, visionary leadership, work-motivation, community engagement.