Lecturers' commitment to teaching entrepreneurship: do transformational leadership, mindfulness and readiness for change matter?

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influence of transformational leadership and mindfulness on lecturers' commitment to teaching entrepreneurship with mediating effect of readiness for change in polytechnics.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the cross-sectional survey method. The sample participants were 171 lecturers from polytechnics. Data were analysed by using partial least squares–structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach.

Findings

Findings indicated that readiness for change mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and commitment to teaching entrepreneurship. Transformational leadership and mindfulness had no significant influence on commitment to teaching entrepreneurship. Readiness for change did not mediate the relationship between mindfulness and commitment to teaching entrepreneurship.

Practical implications

Higher education should be aware of the importance of lecturers' readiness for change. This is because readiness for change is the mediator of the relationship between transformational leadership and commitment to teaching entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

The study sheds light on the explanation of mediating effect of readiness for change to influence the relationship between transformational leadership and lecturers' commitment to teaching entrepreneurship in the Malaysian polytechnic context.

Citation

Yeap, S.B., Abdullah, A.G.K. and Thien, L.M. (2021), "Lecturers' commitment to teaching entrepreneurship: do transformational leadership, mindfulness and readiness for change matter?", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 13 No. 1, pp. 164-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-12-2019-0311