Competency and Preparedness of Educational Leaders on Managing Crisis in Public Higher Learning Institution: Haramaya University in Focus Running Title: Managing Crisis in Public Higher Learning Institution

Abstract

 Ethiopia's higher education institutions have been overwhelmed by a growing array of crises at various levels caused by multiple unknown causes. As a result, it made panic inside the campus community and raised questions of whether university administrators can prepare and react to crisis occasions. Thus, this paper aims to examine the competency and preparedness of educational leaders in managing crises at Haramaya University. A survey research design was used, as well as triangulation mixed approaches. Data was gathered using a questionnaire, key informant interview, observation, and document analysis. The participants of the study were 86 leaders, 129 instructors (123 for survey & 6 interviews), 24 students' representatives, 82 peace and security officers (11 for the interview &71 for the survey), two massagers, and two students' cafeteria service waiters with a total of 325 have participated in this study. Study subjects were selected by using purposive, simple random, and stratified sampling techniques. The researchers used descriptive statistics and inferential statistics to interpret quantitative data appropriately. Also, qualitative data analyzed thematically to substantiate quantitative data. The study results indicated that the competency and preparedness of leaders at Haramaya University are slightest and poor. The findings also showed that Haramaya university leaders are not preparing well and not vigilant for the upcoming crisis. Another outcome of the study showed no statistically substantial gap in leaders' competence and preparedness across four classes. Therefore, the leaders are inefficiently controlling and guiding the university throughout the crisis.  The findings indicated that the university leaders are relatively better capable and competent in a political frame than structural, human, and symbolic leadership structures. The study further assured that the university has been interrupting the campus crisis for the last decade that led to destructions and deterred the university's teaching-learning process. Thus, the results underlined that the leaders of public higher learning institutions need to develop competencies in managing crises and improve their preparedness for the impending crisis.