There is a fragmented and complex literature about higher education leadership representing a diversity of ideological perspectives about its nature and purposes. Internationally, the literature has been strongly shaped by the importation of concepts and theories from management studies and a tradition of scholarship led by university leader-researchers. Drawing on an extensive literature review—drawing on over 250 books, book chapters, reports and journal articles—this paper identifies three key perspectives. The Traditionalist perspective is concerned with the cultural context, arguing that the import of neoliberal business practices into university leadership and management has undermined academic self-governance. The Reformist perspective focuses on values from a social justice perspective arguing for a more democratic and inclusive style of leadership including participation from historically under-represented groups. Finally, the Pragmatist perspective is more functionally focused in identifying the capabilities, skills and competences needed for effective leadership in universities at all levels. These three perspectives provide important insights into the culture, values and competences of university leadership reflecting the distinctive culture of higher education (traditionalist), its values as a reflection of wider society (reformist) and how best to practically manage and achieve positive change in such an environment (pragmatist). An appreciation of these perspectives and the skills, values and knowledge embedded in the literature will facilitate the evolution of leadership development and practice in alignment with contemporary organisational needs and societal expectations.

关于高等教育领导力的文献支离破碎且复杂，代表了关于其性质和目的的多种意识形态观点。在国际上，管理研究的概念和理论的引入以及大学领导研究人员领导的学术传统对文献产生了强烈的影响。本文基于广泛的文献综述（参考了 250 多本书籍、书籍章节、报告和期刊文章）确定了三个关键观点。传统主义者的观点关注文化背景，认为将新自由主义商业实践引入大学领导和管理已经破坏了学术自治。改革派的观点侧重于从社会正义角度的价值观，主张更加民主和包容的领导风格，包括历史上代表性不足的群体的参与。最后，实用主义的观点在功能上更侧重于确定各级大学有效领导所需的能力、技能和能力。这三个视角为大学领导层的文化、价值观和能力提供了重要的见解，反映了高等教育的独特文化（传统主义），其价值观反映了更广泛的社会（改革主义），以及如何最好地实际管理和实现积极的变革环境（实用主义者）。对这些观点以及文献中蕴含的技能、价值观和知识的欣赏将有助于领导力发展和实践的演变，以符合当代组织的需求和社会期望。