PhD Dissertation Defense Examines Effectiveness of Self-Leadership Training Program

The College of Educational Sciences at the Islamic University of Minnesota - Main Center held an academic defense of the doctoral dissertation submitted by researcher Mohamed Al-Idrisi, entitled “The Effectiveness of a Training Program Based on Developing Self-Leadership in Enhancing Psychological Hardiness among Employees in Leadership Positions at Private Institutions.” The defense was conducted as part of the PhD program in the Department of Educational Psychology via Zoom, in the presence of the dissertation committee, faculty members, researchers, and other interested participants.

The defense committee was chaired by Associate Professor Dr. Anas Nawafleh, Head of the Department of Educational Psychology. Dr. Bayan Nayef Mohammad Araideh served as the dissertation supervisor, while Associate Professor Dr. Ali Dawahdeh and Dr. Fadia Rizk served as internal examiners, and Dr. Alia Abdulrahman Mustafa served as the external examiner.

The dissertation examined the effectiveness of a training program based on developing self-leadership skills and assessed its impact on enhancing psychological hardiness among employees in leadership positions at private institutions. The study was based on the importance of developing leadership capabilities and enabling leaders to effectively cope with professional pressures and administrative challenges, thereby supporting institutional performance and promoting psychological and professional stability.

The defense featured an in-depth academic discussion of the study’s theoretical framework, research methodology, instruments, and findings. The committee members provided a number of scholarly observations and methodological recommendations aimed at enriching the dissertation and strengthening its academic value. They also commended the researcher’s efforts in addressing a topic of growing importance in the fields of educational psychology and leadership development.

The dissertation defense forms part of the efforts of the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at the Islamic University of Minnesota to support rigorous academic research and encourage specialized studies addressing contemporary educational and psychological issues. Such research contributes to developing practical academic solutions that can enhance institutional performance and respond to the needs of contemporary workplaces and communities.