Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) to explore the existing situation, desirable situation, and the needs to develop ethical leadership of first-line administrators of universities in Nanning; and 2) to develop the program to strengthen ethical leadership of first-line administrators of universities in Nanning. Mixed-methods research was employed, which was divided into two phases: Phase 1 explored existing situations, desirable situations, and the need to develop ethical leadership of first-line administrators of universities. The samples were 385 first-line administrators, teachers, and students in Nanning. The research instrument was a 5-rating scales questionnaire with reliability of existing situation, and desirable situation were 0.972 and 0.978. Phase 2 was developing a program to strengthen ethical leadership of first-line administrators of universities. Informants were 5 lecturers who were good at ethical leadership, and 5 experts to evaluate the program. Research instruments were an interview form, and a program evaluation form. Statistics used to analyze data were mean, standard deviation, and modified priority needs index.

The research results were as follows:

I. The existing situations of first-line administrators of universities in ethical leadership were at a moderate level, while desirable situations were at the highest level. The need to develop first-line administrators of universities in ethical leadership was ranked from high to low: responsibility, fairness, trust, respect, and integrity.

II. A program to strengthen ethical leadership of first-line administrators of universities comprising 1) principle, 2) objectives were to educate and to develop the abilities and skills of first-line administrators of universities in ethical leadership, 3) content consists of five modules: Module 1 integrity; Module 2 respect; Module 3 trust; Module 4 fairness; and Module 5 responsibility, 4) development method, and activities; 5) program evaluation with the results were at the highest level in appropriateness, feasibility, and utility.

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