From Ships-To-Classrooms: Embedding Leadership Styles of Maritime Instructors in the Academic Classrooms

This study investigates the leadership styles of maritime instructors at Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College and their impact, focusing on transactional, transformational, and authentic leadership styles. It aims to explore the demographic characteristics of instructors; the leadership styles used onboard ships, the perceived leadership styles in the academic classroom from students' perspectives, barriers to integrating these leadership styles, and the relationship between leadership styles and integration barriers. A descriptive correlational research design was utilized to examine the relationship between instructor demographics, leadership styles, and the challenges of integrating these styles into academic classrooms. Data was collected through a questionnaire administered to maritime instructors and students at the college. The questionnaire includes items on demographics, leadership styles, and perceived barriers. Statistical analysis, including descriptive and inferential statistics, analyzes the data and determines the relationships between variables. The research instruments undergo validation through expert review, pilot testing, and face and content validity considerations. The study's conclusions highlight the leadership styles of maritime instructors, student perceptions, integration barriers, discrepancies between self-assessments and student assessments, and the relationship between leadership styles and barriers. Maritime instructors employ transactional, transformational, and authentic leadership styles, but improvements in communication and addressing certain issues are needed. Students have a positive perception of their instructors, recognizing empowering behaviors. Integration barriers include resistance, training gaps, cultural influences, and policies. Aligning instructors' and students' perceptions is crucial. Increasing the prominence of leadership styles reduces barriers. Recommendations include student engagement, reflection for instructors, investing in training and resources, supporting instructors, advocating for policy changes, and further research. These insights aim to enhance leadership development and education in the maritime industry.