This research aims to measure the adaptive capacity of universities using a conceptual model that extends the literature by introducing critical components that determine adaptive capacity. In addition, the study links two major concepts i.e. learning culture and learning leadership with institutions’ adaptive capacity. In doing so, complexity theory was followed to pragmatically explore and understand the issues under study. Guided by pragmatism perspective, mixed research design particularly, the sequential explanatory approach was used. Questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and documents were used to gather data from academic, support staffs and leaders in the sample universities. To analyze data, Partial least square path modeling (PLS-PM), ANOVA, t-test, and correlation analysis techniques were followed by using SPSS and XL-STAT softwares. The findings showed that the adaptive capacity of universities to be unsatisfactory, which is lower than moderate. This indicates universities might not fully implement the change ideas they wish to introduce into their system. Their learning culture and the learning leadership were also found inadequate. The analysis showed that there is a strong correlation between adaptive capacity with learning culture and learning leadership. Consequently, the identified gaps and challenges in the studied universities strengthen the argument for the need to assess universities’ adaptive capacity using a model and make appropriate intervention before struggling to introduce any change initiative without a fertile ground. Finally, it is recommended that universities need to revisit their adaptive capacity using the proposed model and should act to improve their readiness for any change. Furthermore, universities have to widen opportunities for learning and development. In sum, to ensure successful changes in universities, there should be a strong adaptive capacity. Therefore, by successfully installing change initiatives into universities the efficiency and effectiveness of universities can be improved, which ultimately enables them to survive and thrive in this complex changing world.