<p>The governance systems of higher education institutions in China are undergoing rapid development, driven by the increasing involvement of various stakeholders and the demand for modern management mechanisms. This transformation necessitates updated and effective leadership models tailored to institutional needs. This study investigates which university governance tasks are prioritized by presidents of public and private universities in China (<i>N</i> = 217). Drawing on the existing literature, the authors developed a governance priority questionnaire to assess how university presidents rank various leadership competencies in terms of perceived importance. Quantitative findings reveal that presidents of public universities place significantly greater emphasis on understanding governmental policy (<i>p</i> = 0.00), whereas presidents of private universities prioritize effective collaboration. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups regarding psychological literacy, strategic planning, commitment to academic excellence, technological innovation, financial management, ethical conduct, effective communication, and leadership (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.05). The results suggest that private universities may serve as initial platforms for implementing new governance models focused on effective communication and psychological competence. However, individual attitudes of university presidents influence the extent to which such models are either adopted or resisted. It is recommended that governance models be designed and implemented with a stronger focus on the development of human capital rather than broader or vaguely defined human factors, in order to enhance the effectiveness of university leadership in China.</p>