Competencies of Authentic Educational Leader Dealing with Challenges of 21st-Century Educational Landscape - A Conceptual Review in the Indian Context

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a conceptual review of the competencies required by authentic educational leaders to effectively address the multifaceted challenges in the Indian educational context, especially in higher educational institutions. In the rapidly changing landscape of 21st- century education, authentic leadership has emerged as a critical factor for educational leaders to steer complex challenges and changing needs of 21st-century learners and educators. Drawing upon existing literature, this paper synthesizes key concepts related to authentic leadership, identifies inherent difficulties in the contemporary educational landscape, and proposes a framework of competencies essential for authentic educational leadership in India. The synthesis highlights the importance of integrity, relational transparency, moral purpose, and collaboration as foundational elements of authentic leadership. Additionally, it explores the significance of adaptability, innovation, cultural intelligence, and digital literacy in addressing specific challenges such as globalization, technological advancements, cultural diversity, and socio-economic disparities. By elucidating these competencies, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of authentic leadership in the Indian educational context and provides insights for educational policymakers, practitioners, and researchers. This paper describes the background and applicability of authentic leadership in the present educational landscape in India especially for the implementation of the new educational policy (2020) and summarizes evidence of its effects on the functioning of educational institutions.