Cambodian Female Leaders' Perceptions of Opportunities and Challenges in Higher Education Leadership

Abstract

Women are currently under-represented in leadership roles in Cambodia, yet at the same time there are some key leadership roles in higher education that are held by women. The purpose of this study was to explore Cambodian female leaders' perceptions of the opportunities and challenges faced in higher education leadership by seeking to understand what supports Cambodian female leaders to be successful in higher education leadership and the barriers they encounter in their roles. This study was a qualitative interview study. Eleven female leaders from six different prestigious higher education institutions in Phnom Penh were purposively selected to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The key findings revealed that self-efficacy, opportunities to learn, and support from the family, the workplace, and society were supportive factors for these Cambodian women to lead and succeed in higher education. The barriers faced by these women include the mindset about female leaders, constraints in the workplace, the pressures of family responsibilities, and personal challenges. The analysis of the findings of this study indicate that self-efficacy, inspiration from role models, specific skills in the role, leadership content knowledge, and support from the family and the workplace are the key factors for women to succeed in leadership roles in Cambodia. This thesis discusses some potential ways in which women can be supported in their leadership roles.