The exercise of empathetic leadership at universities
This article delves into the manifestation of empathetic leadership in relation to war-affected communities in the context of the UK’s higher education institutions. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of universality and the ecological university, the qualitative study employed a thematic analys...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2450999 |
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| author | Marcellus Forh Mbah Sara Zara Milani Iryna Kushnir |
| author_facet | Marcellus Forh Mbah Sara Zara Milani Iryna Kushnir |
| author_sort | Marcellus Forh Mbah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article delves into the manifestation of empathetic leadership in relation to war-affected communities in the context of the UK’s higher education institutions. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of universality and the ecological university, the qualitative study employed a thematic analysis of statements from a random selection of university leaders responding to the Ukraine–Russia war. The analysis reveals a dual-dimensional approach to empathetic leadership, encompassing expression and action. Leaders express empathy by 1) acknowledging the severity of the situation, and 2) assertion to support their community who are affected by the war. The expressive dimensions serve as initial signals to ensuing actions. While these actions, addressing immediate needs, also align with the principles of the ecological university, a comprehensive continuum of empathetic leadership has been proposed. This article’s original contribution hinges on the broad understanding of empathetic leadership, with a contextual focus on the university during a defining moment of an emergency or crisis such as war. It heightens the need for further studies on the idea of the university and its internal and wider responsibilities in a changing global landscape, sometimes characterised by conflicts, epidemics, pandemics, and other challenges brought to its shore by forces beyond its control. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1352d177c0be4f45b903e33eeefb5633 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2331-186X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-1352d177c0be4f45b903e33eeefb56332025-01-11T16:10:33ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2450999The exercise of empathetic leadership at universitiesMarcellus Forh Mbah0Sara Zara Milani1Iryna Kushnir2Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Manchester, UKDepartment of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UKNottingham Institute of Education, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UKThis article delves into the manifestation of empathetic leadership in relation to war-affected communities in the context of the UK’s higher education institutions. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of universality and the ecological university, the qualitative study employed a thematic analysis of statements from a random selection of university leaders responding to the Ukraine–Russia war. The analysis reveals a dual-dimensional approach to empathetic leadership, encompassing expression and action. Leaders express empathy by 1) acknowledging the severity of the situation, and 2) assertion to support their community who are affected by the war. The expressive dimensions serve as initial signals to ensuing actions. While these actions, addressing immediate needs, also align with the principles of the ecological university, a comprehensive continuum of empathetic leadership has been proposed. This article’s original contribution hinges on the broad understanding of empathetic leadership, with a contextual focus on the university during a defining moment of an emergency or crisis such as war. It heightens the need for further studies on the idea of the university and its internal and wider responsibilities in a changing global landscape, sometimes characterised by conflicts, epidemics, pandemics, and other challenges brought to its shore by forces beyond its control.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2450999Empathetic leadershipuniversitiesUkrainecrisisUKuniversality |
| spellingShingle | Marcellus Forh Mbah Sara Zara Milani Iryna Kushnir The exercise of empathetic leadership at universities Cogent Education Empathetic leadership universities Ukraine crisis UK universality |
| title | The exercise of empathetic leadership at universities |
| title_full | The exercise of empathetic leadership at universities |
| title_fullStr | The exercise of empathetic leadership at universities |
| title_full_unstemmed | The exercise of empathetic leadership at universities |
| title_short | The exercise of empathetic leadership at universities |
| title_sort | exercise of empathetic leadership at universities |
| topic | Empathetic leadership universities Ukraine crisis UK universality |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2450999 |
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