INSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM AND AUTONOMY: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP

Abstract This study critically examines the theme of "Institutional freedom and autonomy: implications for university leadership.". To navigate this inquiry, two specific research questions were formulated. The investigation adopted a survey research design, targeting a specific population comprising eight (8) deans drawn from eight distinct faculties within the University of Abuja. Utilizing a purposive sampling technique, the study engaged these eight deans as the sample size. To ensure the instrument's validity, the questionnaire was subjected to review by two senior lecturers from the Department of Educational Management at the University of Abuja. Furthermore, reliability was established by administering the instrument to two external respondents, yielding a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.71, indicating acceptable internal consistency. The empirical results indicated that the university leadership has not successfully achieved either institutional freedom or autonomy. Consequently, the researchers recommend that university leadership must secure robust, independent financial sources to establish true autonomy. Furthermore, to safeguard academic freedom, it is imperative that leaders uphold strict accountability across all operational facets of the university.