DEVELOPMENT OF AN INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP STRATEGY FOR INSTRUCTORS AT PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN HENAN PROVINCE, CHINA

The aim of this research was to develop an instructional leadership strategy for instructors at private universities in Henan Province, China. The study identified key factors influencing instructional leadership, assessed its current status among instructors, and examined the impacts of instructional practice, organizational culture, and professional learning communities on leadership capacity. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining systematic literature review, preliminary interviews, and a large-scale survey of 358 instructors from three private universities in Henan Province, with expert validation ensuring the reliability and contextual appropriateness of the instrument. The results confirmed that the strategy significantly improved instructors’ instructional leadership by strengthening teaching practices, enhancing organizational culture, and fostering collaborative professional learning communities. This study contributes theoretically by expanding the literature on instructional leadership in the Chinese private higher education context and practically by providing a feasible and sustainable strategy that can guide institutional improvement and be adapted by other private universities in Henan Province.