Umm Al-Qura University approves PhD on leadership competencies in education

Umm Al-Qura University has approved the doctoral thesis submitted by researcher Ghada bint Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Qahtani, titled "Developing Leadership Competencies to Achieve Competitive Advantage in Education Departments: A Proposed Strategy." The scientific study addresses one of the most prominent modern trends in educational leadership, presenting a comprehensive practical strategy aimed at developing leadership competencies and achieving competitive advantage in education departments, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The study comes at a time of rapid transformation in the education sector, making leadership competencies a key pillar for enhancing institutional performance, driving change, improving output quality, and fostering a culture of excellence and sustainability. The growing importance of competitive advantage is also highlighted as an indicator of educational institutions' ability to innovate and efficiently utilize resources.

The thesis employed a scientific methodology that combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. It relied on surveys to assess the current state of leadership competencies and the challenges facing their development in education departments, and conducted in-depth interviews with a group of experts and specialists to identify development requirements. This contributed to building a strategy based on precise scientific results that meet the needs of the educational reality.

The study produced an integrated strategy for developing leadership competencies, including clear foundations and objectives, implementation requirements, practical initiatives, application mechanisms, and performance indicators. This makes it a practical framework that can be implemented to enhance institutional performance, support educational leaders, and achieve competitive advantage and sustainable development in education departments.

The thesis received praise from the examination committee for its scientific originality, advanced research methodology, analytical rigor, and quality of results, as well as its focus on a modern research topic of growing importance in educational leadership.

The committee adopted the thesis as a model and methodological framework for postgraduate students in the department, recognizing its comprehensive scientific structure and valuable contribution to the academic literature in educational leadership and management.

The proposed strategy stands out as the study's main outcome, opening broad prospects for its use in developing educational leaders, raising institutional performance, fostering a culture of excellence, and enhancing the competitiveness of education departments in line with the aspirations of the Kingdom's education system.