The transformation of a higher education change agent: women in digital administration

Institutions of higher education are no strangers to change and innovation. For these institutions to implement change there must be strong leaders who are able to act as the main change agents of the institution. Women have proven that they are capable of achieving at high standards and have the potential to be administrative leaders in higher education. In a world that is dominated by male leadership, female leaders are excelling in academics and in their career choices, especially in the field of distance education. The purpose of this quantitative, survey-based research was to examine the transformation that has occurred to the role of female leaders in higher education distance learning and to identify which factors are prevalent in this transformation. Through this research, the goal was to also identify the differences that are prevalent between women and men leaders in higher education to help exemplify the transformation of the leadership role based on gender. In addition, the study allowed for the gathering of personal perspectives on leadership and how leadership roles have been attained in higher education administration and higher education digital administration. Data collected through an internet survey helped construct a relevant relationship between the firsthand experiences and the overall success of the participants. This study employed a cross sectional, survey-based design. The dependent variable, career progression, was simply defined as the progress to better jobs or professional opportunities, while the independent variables of personal experiences, age and motivation were continuously and categorically defined. The sample for this study included 100 women administrators, which included 54 respondents that were females in the role of a digital administrator. The researcher utilized the statistical findings from the Qualtrics software to help support conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone. With the study data to help support the research questions, the researcher found that there was a significant relationship between career progression and the personal and professional experiences and motivation of female leaders. In addition, there were many characteristics that women in digital administration share. The researcher found that there were important factors that women deem significant in relation to their achievement and acquisition of their current position and that there is a significant relationship between those factors. Lastly, the researcher found that there is a significant relationship between the competencies and attributes identified by women administrators for leaders today