MANAGING UNIVERSITIES IN THE 21st CENTURY THROUGH ETHICS AND VALUES EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

Abstract

In the face of growing ethical challenges, leadership failures, and social fragmentation in the 21st century, the role of universities must be redefined to support sustainable national development. This position paper examines the regeneration of university management through the lens of ethics and values education, proposing that higher education institutions must go beyond academic excellence to foster moral consciousness, civic responsibility, and ethical leadership. It argues that embedding ethics and core values into university governance, curriculum design, institutional culture, and administrative practices is essential for building transparent, accountable, and socially responsive institutions. Through this ethical lens, universities are envisioned as transformative agents capable of driving inclusive development and addressing systemic national issues such as corruption, inequality, and poor governance. Drawing on contemporary ethical leadership theories and guided by global benchmarks in university governance, this paper proposes a dynamic framework for repositioning higher education management in ways that align with national development priorities. It contends that ethics and values education must form the backbone of institutional transformation, fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, and civic responsibility across all levels of the university system. Building on this foundation, the paper offers several suggestions for institutional transformation such as embedding values education across the curriculum; establishing clear ethical policies supported by effective accountability systems; instituting leadership training rooted in ethical principles for university administrators among others. Ultimately, the paper concludes that embracing ethically anchored university management is not only a moral obligation but a forward-looking imperative for navigating the complex demands of the 21st century and achieving inclusive, enduring, and sustainable national transformation.