Are you aspiring to become a leader in education and make a difference in your students’ lives? The MA in Leadership in Education programme will help you improve your teaching practices and advance your skills to pursue a stable and promising career in education.
Become an effective leader make change
Educational organisations need committed and capable leaders who can support and inspire both students and teachers. As “there are virtually no documented instances of troubled schools being turned around without intervention by a powerful leader” (Kenneth Leithwood, Educational researcher).
The MA in Leadership in Education is a rewarding degree as it offers numerous opportunities for employment in different fields of education. Undoubtedly, it is a degree with many advantages, as it qualifies graduates to pursue executive career positions or even lead institutions. MA in Leadership in Education graduates can work in schools, colleges, universities, government departments and other educational institutions and enjoy stable careers. They can become headteachers, directors, Education inspectors, directors of admissions or even work for non-profit international organisations.
Does education need leaders?
School leaders, directors, inspectors, and ministers of Education all have a decisive role in school management and curriculum development, determining not only what but also how students learn. Schools are small societies with shared values, rules and policies that promote freedom of expression. They portrait how society expects citizens to behave, act and take responsibility for their actions.
The authorities in these “miniature societies” are the teaching staff and directors, who ensure that relations within schools remain harmonious and productive. Moreover, they are securing a fair-minded learning environment with democratic principles and practices. Students learn to co-exist and co-operate with fellow students from different backgrounds. They observe behaviours and attitudes of their role models and “imitate” their example. School years mark students’ behaviour as they master tolerance, acceptance, emotional intelligence, and co-operation from an early age.
Rules and regulations define organisational behaviour and the duties of every party, similarly to a law-abiding society. School leaders develop, apply and revise behaviour guidelines and strategies ensuring equal rights in education. Successful school leaders effectively coordinate all aspects of school life and maximise student and teacher performance. Beyond discipline and administration duties, leaders also provide the right stimuli for students to discover their talents and interests. Consequently, an influential educator has a significant role not only within a school but also in society at large.
Redesigning schools
Great leaders are not afraid to step up and change the system. Effective leadership means having the practical skills and knowledge to lead an organisation while caring for its members. But in many cases, schools lack action plans and strategic initiatives affecting students’ learning negatively. An effective leader should not be afraid to revise and reform a school’s system. The redesign of school practices must be the result of a collective effort and must be accepted by everyone. It is also equally important that the members of an institution are aware of the new practices, strategic plan, and disciplinary methods. Leadership is all about motivating people, working together, and managing success and failure.
Educational Leadership is more than management
Educational leaders are needed in all schools and learning facilities, especially those where student learning is poor. They set goals, track performances, and assess teaching methods. An experienced leader will train an educator and participate indirectly in the learning process to create a safety net for students and teachers.
Additionally, highly trained leaders learn to interpret external national reforms and adjust the curriculum accordingly. In other words, the school management oversees political decisions concerning education practices, integrates them and evaluates them consistently. Furthermore, school leaders build and maintain strong connections with the community, local authorities, and most importantly, with parents. School and community are always integrally linked. This enables graduates to quickly adapt to the real world and better understand cultural patterns.
Educational Leaders with a vision
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality “(Warren Bennis, American scholar)
A great leader cares about the social impact of renouncing public recognition and power. Educational leaders who envision a better world value the efforts of others. They build strong teams that create and sustain dynamic schools.
Explore our flexible online MA in Leadership in Education, offered by our partner Liverpool John Moores University in the UK to earn a British Master’s with a Unicaf Scholarship and become a great leader!
