Influence of government policies, economic environment, and organizational culture in leadership styles towards the internationalization of higher education in Guizhou, China

The internationalization of higher education (IHE) has emerged as a transformative strategy in response to globalization, with leadership playing an essential role in directing complex challenges and opportunities. This study explores the leadership styles of International Affairs Directors (IADs) in Guizhou’s Higher Education Institutions (HEI), assessing how government policies, economic environments, and organizational cultures influence their approaches to advancing internationalization. Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model as the theoretical framework, the research highlights the connection of external systems and individual leadership behaviors. The Full Range Leadership Model (FRLM) provides insights into the effectiveness of transformational, transactional, and distributed leadership styles within this context. Data collection methods include semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and thematic analysis, focusing on 11 higher education institutions in Guizhou. The findings discover that government policies, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Double First-Class strategy, shape institutional internationalization agendas. Economic factors, including resource constraints and regional development goals, further influence leadership adaptability. Organizational culture emerges as a critical determinant, with supportive environments fostering inclusive and visionary leadership. Despite the potential for international collaborations, challenges such as resource limitations, cultural barriers, and misaligned institutional priorities hinder progress. The study highlights the importance of leadership approaches to address these challenges, emphasizing adaptability, cultural intelligence, and strategic alignment with regional and global trends. This research contributes to the discourse on IHE by providing actionable recommendations for enhancing leadership effectiveness in resource-constrained settings like Guizhou. It advocates for capacitybuilding, policy alignment, and a holistic understanding of leadership dynamics to optimize internationalization outcomes. The findings have implications for policymakers, institutional leaders, and researchers seeking to advance internationalization in similar contexts worldwide.

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