English abstract
This study aimed to explore the leadership skills of the supervisors of learning resources and the impact of their demographic variables on their leadership skills in the Sultanate of Oman. The study also investigated the extent of the supervisors' awareness of MOE's efforts to achieve and reinforce the different dimensions of career empowerment based on their demographic features. Furthermore, the study explored the relationship between the awareness of supervisors of learning resources on the dimensions of career empowerment and the existing leadership skills. In addition, the study suggested a mechanism to activate the dimensions of career empowerment in order to enhance the supervisors' leadership skills. The study employed the descriptive and quantitative methodology by using a questionnaire which allowed for including all the study population of (43) supervisors in the Sultanate. The study results showed that supervisors have a high level of leadership skills. Another finding is that the gender of the supervisors was a factor that determined the level of influence of the demographic features on the leadership skills. However, the result pointed out a moderate level of empowerment. Also, the years of experience affected the influence of demographic features on the awareness of supervisors of learning resources on the dimensions of career empowerment. The result showed a positive correlation between the existing leadership skills of the supervisors and the level of knowledge, management skills, freedom, independency as well as the positive interaction. The study proposed a mechanisms to activate the career empowerment of supervisors, including: raising the belief in the importance of learning resource centers and the role of the counselor and the supervisor, modifying the ministry's regulatory strategies, and adopting the principle of transparency in the work. The study recommended that the upper management in MOE should (1) adopt the concept of the empowerment both administratively and practically, (2) enroll the supervisors in training courses and motivate them financially and morally, and (3) provide an expert in the field of the profession who will act as a leadership and intellectual reference.
