This course provides entree to the field of administration, management and leadership in education. The course is designed to enable participants to develop knowledge and expertise in leading improvement in education at system level. Through active participation in this course students will engage in reflection on leadership theory and practice, interrogate drivers for policy development and develop skills in identifying data sources to underpin improvement. The impact of globalisation and organisational culture on the development of sustainable strategic improvement in education is explored.

Not finalised: room for flexibility

Participants will be expected to complete the equivalent of 3,000 words of assessed material. This will include a major assignment involving critical analysis of concepts covered in course work and exploration of system level leadership. 75%

Individual report, 1,000 words, produced as a result of collaborative work to explore policies and literature related to a current educational trend. 25%

■ To develop a critical understanding of theoretical and applied approaches to educational management and leadership at system level; 

■ To develop an appreciation of key drivers in the development of educational policy;

■ To consider the implications of capacity building and the infrastructure required to support it;

■ To develop skills in reflecting on and articulating ways in which their personal values and beliefs influence their understanding and development as potential educational leaders;

■ To develop an understanding of ways in which information/ intelligence and data can support leadership of system level improvement;

■ To develop an appreciation of the impact of globalisation and cultural differences on leadership practices;

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Examine and analyse critically the relationship between administration, management and leadership in education 

■ Evaluate key concepts underpinning current topics and trends in educational leadership theory and practice

■ Demonstrate an enhanced awareness of key influences in the development of educational policy

■ Examine critically and articulate the relationship between their personal values and beliefs and their development as a potential educational leader.

■ Synthesise relevant sources of intelligence/ information and data required to inform planning for context specific systems improvement

■ Present and justify proposed strategies to build capacity and capability for system level improvement

■ Examine critically the impact of globalisation and cultural differences on leadership practices

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.