A Study On Robert Birnbaum's Theory Of University Presidents Leadership

Robert Birnbaum is a well-known educational sociologist and higher education scholar in contemporary education field of United States of American. He plays a very important role in American education field, and he and his theories have a profound effect on American higher education, even world-wide higher education.The historical background of this thesis is the U.S.A society of after World War II, which introduces Birnbaum's personal profile and his main educational practice. This thesis mainly analyzes and researches the theories of leadership of University presidents on the basis of Birnbaum's University Organization Model of Control. And this thesis is trying to analyze the different types of University Presidents, which can help university presidents to comprehensively understand the nature of leadership and the main influence of university reform and the principles of improving leadership's effectiveness. Through understanding of Birnbaum's theories, I am trying to find a new method or a new choice to help the present Chinese university presidents to deal with the issues which they met in the process of Chinese university management and in the courses of Chinese universities reform.The thesis has four parts.First part introduces and analyses Robert Brinbaum's personal profile and his educational practice.Second part depicts the background of university presidents leadership and the basis of his theories.Third part elaborates the specific content of Birnbaum's theory of University Presidents leadership. It includes several aspects: first, to discuss different types of University Presidents leadership, the conditions and influence factors of university reform and innovation; second, to analyze the evaluation methods of the effectiveness of University Presidents leadership, evaluation criterion and restrict factors for leadership; and finally to find out the principles how to improve the effectiveness of University Presidents leadership. Forth part evaluates University Presidents leadership of Birnbaum's theory and makes it as reference for Chinese university presidents. The article elaborates the characteristics of Birnbaum's university president leadership. Combining Birnbaum's University presidents leadership with situations of Chinese Universities, there are some recommendations about how to improve effectiveness of Chinese University Presidents leadership and how to improve China Higher Education system.