Predictors of Leadership Effectiveness at Research Universities Transforming Malaysia to an international center of higher education excellence is the most important mission of Research Universities (RUs). To materialize this mission, university administrators have key role; to be dealt with challenges they must adopt effective leadership styles to direct their organizations effectively. Heads of Departments’ Leadership Styles Predictors of Leadership Effectiveness Independent Variables Beta Std R R² Adj R² R² change Contingent Reward .158 .835 .698 .697 Idealized Influence Attribute .159 .875 .765 .763 .067 Individualized Consideration .207 .886 .784 .782 .019 Inspirational Motivation .237 .896 .803 .801 Laissez-faire -.123 .902 .814 .811 .011 Intellectual Stimulation .165 .905 .820 .816 .006 Management-by-Exception Active .065 .907 .823 .818 .003 MLQ Norm: IIA:2.94; IIB:2.77; IM:2.92; IS:2.78; IC:2.84; CR:2.87; MEA:1.67; MEP:1.03; LF:0.65 Note: F{7,289}=191.5; p<.001 The discovery This is the first research on leadership styles since establishment of the RUs in Malaysia. The findings highlighting the current leadership styles utilizing by RUs’ heads of departments. Importance Heads of departments demonstrating more transformational leadership but, they still need to improve their practice regarding intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration. Displaying laissez-faire leadership more than that required. Impact The study indicated that contingent reward is a multidimensional construct and has characteristics of transformational and transactional leadership; which theoretically is crucial. It also has the most important effect on leadership effectiveness at Malaysian Rus; which practically is important. Demonstrating transformational leadership less and laissez-faire leadership more than ideal norms by heads of departments. These indicate necessity for leadership training. The findings of this study can be utilized to improve university management practices. Findings indicate the Malaysian RUs need leaders who exhibit transformational behaviors more often than what they did in this study. publication Sadeghi, a; Zaidatol Akmaliah, L. P. (2012). Transformational Leadership and It’s Predictive Effects on Leadership Effectiveness. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 3 (7), 186-197. Methodology Design: Descriptive-correlational Population: Academic staff of three RUs, UM,UKM, and UPM Sampling procedure: Proportional stratified random sampling Sample size: 305 Instrument: Multi Factor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ 5X) Reliability: α coefficient between .67 to .94. Researcher’s Name: Prof Dr.Zaidatol Akmaliah Lope Pihie Co-Researcher’s Name: Dr. Amir Sadeghi Department: Science and Technical Education Faculty: Educational Studies Email: zalp@educ.edu.upm.my Contact Number: 0166295721