How do HEIs leaders deal with multi-dexterity? Research on necessary competences for third space professionals

By implementing new business oriented managerial standards, European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) had to experience fundamental changes within the past 15 years. Since there are various requirements imposed on HEIs (e.g. innovation competencies, efficiency), they require a multifaceted organisational capability, which we introduce, referring to “organisational ambidexterity”, as the concept of Higher Educational Multi-Dexterity. Our qualitative research study examines experiences of HEI leaders of University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria and Johannes Kepler University who act in the context of those phenomena, especially focused on current leadership tendencies (role making changes between scholars and leaders) and corresponding HEIs governance strategies.