Abstract:
Research is a key indicator of university performance and research leadership is a critical
variable in achieving research excellence. This qualitative research study examined the
‘research stories’ of ten research performing academics and the reported research and
mentoring experiences of a sample of 30 of their postgraduate mentees to gain a more
nuanced understanding of the nature of research leadership, with special attention to
how this influences research performance. The unit of analysis was leadership at the
disciplinary level within South African higher education. This article discusses one of the
salient features common to the research trajectories in this study, namely, leadership by
example of personal scholarship. Academic role models, who are themselves performing
scientists and scholars, are essential in influencing the intellectual development of the
next generation of researchers.
