156 Ethics in Higher Education: Values-driven Leaders for the Future
in time. This might change as the critical personnel change, as in
changes in the composition of Council or governing body set in, or in
policy change from government or Council that has to be implemented
and does not necessarily come from management. Changes could
seemingly erupt suddenly as a result of prevailing political winds, or
gradually out of planned interventions. In other words, the consensus
that is presumed to exist in liberal society between the higher education
institutions and the state such that institutional autonomy is guaranteed,
academics are assured of academic freedom, and the institution in return
establishes a reputation in scientific activities, and the state guarantees
funding from the public purse to assure the operations of the institution,
may no longer hold.
In a neo-liberal world or in authoritarian systems where universities
are expected to take orders from the political masters, the value of
higher education institutions may constantly be questioned, as well as
justifications for the money spent on higher education may no longer be
guaranteed. In the extreme, politicians may seek to compromise the
standing of the institution, and co-opt elements of the institutions to a
narrow political purpose and/or the institution may be accused of
political bias. All this brings a great deal of pressure and uncertainty that
might affect the extent to which the institution may succeed in its
mission. In other words, there can be no leader without followers. It is
the responsibility of a leader to understand those to whom one has been
placed in charge to lead, and to be open to listen, study and to read the
signs of the times. Indeed where such cross-currents threaten to derail
the university from the course already agreed, the Vice Chancellor has a
duty to calm fears where one can, resist and seek broad support, if that
becomes necessary, and ultimately to pay the supreme price for taking a
principled position, resign.
In the culture of a higher education institution, the Vice Chancellor
or President must also embrace the culture of learning of the institution.