Assessing The Nexus Between Ethical Leadership And Governance In The Philippine Public Sector: A Case Study Of State Universities And Colleges (Sucs) In Zamboanga City

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between ethical leadership and governance effectiveness in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in Zamboanga City, Philippines. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, the study combines quantitative data from 200 survey respondents with qualitative insights from interviews with faculty, staff, and administrators. The Ethical Leadership Scale (ELS) and a Governance Practices Questionnaire were employed to measure perceptions of leadership behaviors and governance effectiveness, respectively. Results indicate a significant positive correlation between ethical leadership and governance effectiveness (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). Ethical leadership practices, particularly in integrity (mean = 4.0) and fairness (mean = 3.9), were highly rated, suggesting that these traits are crucial in fostering trust and accountability within SUCs. Governance practices showed moderate effectiveness (mean = 3.6), with strengths in transparency and control of corruption but weaknesses in stakeholder participation. The findings align with existing literature, reinforcing the notion that ethical leadership is integral to good governance in educational institutions. The study highlights the need for policy initiatives focusing on leadership development, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and organizational culture transformation to improve governance outcomes. Limitations include the study's geographic focus on Zamboanga City and reliance on self-reported data. Future research should consider a broader geographic scope, longitudinal designs, and the inclusion of diverse stakeholder perspectives to deepen the understanding of ethical leadership's impact on governance.