Abstract: Women presidents of state run universities and colleges in Central Mindanao are seldom found. This is a phenomenon that has been long observed in the region with diverse culture, religion, and customs, where patriarchal system dominates.
This study aimed to discover and describe the leadership experience of women presidents of state universities and colleges. It utilized the qualitative method and employed the phenomenological design.
The participants were the three women presidents of state universities and colleges in Central Mindanao. The instruments used were the interview questions reinforced by participants’ curriculum vitae, the demographic profile, their written outputs and the researcher’s journal where interviews were recorded.
The findings reveal that as women in power, all of them attested that their parents played a key role in the formation of qualities which made them effective leaders. As to their productivity as women leaders in the academe, the three of them averred that their leadership knowledge and skills were developed through education, training and experience. Regarding the challenges they encountered while serving as presidents, they asserted that they view them with a positive outlook as they consider themselves as proactive leaders.
The results of the study led to the conclusion that the success of women presidents as leaders is greatly influenced by their parents’ caring attitude, support in their endeavors, and guidance in valuing education. Another conclusion drawn is that the “interiority” embedded in the personal and professional attributes, the intrinsic motivation and the passion to serve has a positive impact in bringing these women leaders to the highest position in the structure of state universities and colleges.
One major recommendation which connects to the findings of the study is that educational institutions should conduct continuing leadership trainings and activities to enhance the capabilities and skills of the teachers, especially the females who are potential leaders, to prepare themselves to accept leadership roles.
The passage to leadership for government higher educational institution in Central Mindanao has a complicated and confusing system, but these women have discovered the maze; their personal and professional attributes brought them to the highest post in the patriarchal dominant milieu: firm but flexible, undisturbed, and directed.
Keywords: discover, maze, women, president, state universities and colleges, Central Mindanao, journey, attributes, experiences, personal, professional, patriarchal, siblings.
Title: DISCOVERING THE MAZE: WOMEN PRESIDENTS OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF REGION 12, Author: Alfonso B. Mana-ay, EdD
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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